Review: The Hollars
- Sammi Leigh Melville
- Oct 12, 2016
- 2 min read
He gave us BRIEF INTERVIEWS WITH HIDEOUS MEN back in 2009, and as many directorial debuts can be, the result was uneven and lacking in authority. Now, John Krasinski has helmed another film, and while THE HOLLARS is endearing, it doesn't show a lot of growth in direction.
John Hollar (Krasinski) has an eccentric family. His father, Don (Richard Jenkins) cries at the drop of a hat; his brother, Ron (Sharlto Copley) is in his 30s and has the responsibility of a child; and his mother, Sally (Margo Martindale)... Well, Sally just found out she has a brain tumor.
John travels back to his childhood home, leaving behind his pregnant girlfriend, Rebecca (Anna Kendrick), to be with his family. But when he arrives, he is bombarded by the mess that his family has created around them. Ron has divorced his wife (Ashley Dyke) and is slowly being driven crazy by her new Reverend boyfriend (Josh Groban), and Don can't keep the family business from sliding into bankruptcy. Sally's nurse (Charlie Day) is now married to John's ex-girlfriend, making things a little awkward for John, who is already feeling anxiety about his and Rebecca's relationship.
The characters in the story are brilliant, and transparent to a fault. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of comedy for the sake of comedy in THE HOLLARS. The plot seems to be staged around gimmicks, and the more poignant moments of the film are sometimes a little bit clumsily juxtaposed with the latter.
But there are nuggets dispersed throughout the film that make up for the uneven pacing and cartoonish humor. The story may have its flaws, but the characters are still relatable. For a fun watch to bide the time until Oscar contenders start cropping up, check THE HOLLARS out at Midtown Cinema!
Duck Duck Clicker looks simple, but it's quite addictive to play. At first, click a little bit at a time, and then jump up tens or millions of dollars. The rhythm of this game is very relaxed, it won't consume a lot of our energy, and it's very suitable for resting and charging.
Loving SoFlo Wheelie Life, the ultimate bike stunt game with super realistic motorcycle physics! Perfect for anyone who enjoys wheelie challenges and high-speed fun.
The film's more moving scenes are occasionally awkwardly schoolboy runaway paired with its more staged story points, which makes it seem like the plot is all about the tricks.
A charming indie effort: Bebder Game mixes retro pixel vibes with modern design touches.
At its core, Blood Money is about stepping into the shoes of a competent contract knock who must complete a succession of BLOODMONEY! tasks in various situations, each more difficult and sophisticated than the last.