WARNING: this most certainly isn't for kids or under 18s.
Based on the novel by Chad Kultgen, Men, Women & Children , directed by Jason Reitman (the same talent behind Thank You for Smoking, Juno, and Up in the Air), is a drama with a generous sprinkle of comedy. The performances are decent. Then again Emma Thompson, Jennifer Garner and Adam Sandler are just some of the cast. The official website describes the film as "the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives. The film attempts to stare down social issues such as video game culture, anorexia, infidelity, fame hunting, and the proliferation of illicit material on the internet. As each character and each relationship is tested, we are shown the variety of roads people choose - some tragic, some hopeful - as it becomes clear that no one is immune to this enormous social change that has come through our phones, our tablets, and our computers."
As you can imagine from this synopsis, this is not a light film with insane action scenes, slapstick laughs or fantastical settings. The humor comes from the dialogue and slice of life situations. And the drama is in your face given how real and engrained in our contemporary society the issues presented are...though the film suffers from instances of melodrama (this is Hollywood after all). Men, Women & Children is thought-provoking on many levels. It's the sort of film that won't be a mass commercial success but it will definitely have a fan base amongst those who appreciate cinema with meatier content.
The themes explored are not new. We all know by now that the internet has changed our lives. But this lack of freshness doesn't make the film boring. In fact there's plenty to keep the audience busy with all the porn; masturbation; adultery; attempted suicide; eating disorders; teen pregnancy; video game addiction; social media dangers; internet predators; controlling, clueless and carefree parents; the hot popularity competition and more.
Our rating: 7 Steps out of 10.
Check out the trailer: