>>REVIEW
IN THE LAND OF WOMEN
STARRING Adam Brody, Meg Ryan and Kristen Stewart
DIRECTED BY Jon Kasdan
Opens Friday, April 20
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For loads of O.C. fans, the first post-O.C. Adam Brody film was something to look forward to. Unfortunately, this "comedy/drama/romance" leaves Brody juggling genres – and women – to a disappointing end.
The film centres around Carter Webb (Brody), a jaded softcore porn writer who, after being dumped by his celebrity girlfriend Sophia (Elena Anaya), moves to suburban Detroit to care for his sick grandmother and "work on his novel."
In Detroit, Carter becomes close to the family across the street, particularly Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan), and her angsty teenage daughter Lucy (Kristen Stewart). What follows is a messy cut-and-paste of genres. One minute Sarah is diagnosed with cancer, the next, Carter is telling his grandmother not to answer the door without pants on. One minute Carter is lamenting over his breakup with Sophia, the next, a character discusses his fear of "taking a dump" in a public washroom.
Carter is awkwardly positioned between Sarah and Lucy, neither of whom seems like a particularly suitable match given the fact that Sarah is almost 20 years his senior and Lucy is still in high school. His romantic involvement with each of the women is nothing short of bland and uncomfortable.
While the film attempts to weave a "coming of age" plot for all of the characters involved, the result is unconvincing. As the film wraps up with Carter beginning a new romance, the audience is left wondering what exactly it was that he learned.
Brody does provide brief moments of charm in an otherwise drab film – but for these few moments, In the Land of Women just isn’t worth it. |
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