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Jason Reitman built a loyal following by directing a handful of smart, entertaining films with crisp, clever dialogue. Then, earlier this year, fans were surprised by Labor Day, a sappy romance that seemed entirely out of character for the talented director. Now Reitman continues his lost year with the drab drama Men, Women & Children.
Reitman’s latest follows a number of high school students and their perplexed parents on interconnected journeys through technology. Some use the Internet as an escape—from adults looking for a way to escape the boredom of their stale marriage to a teenage boy escaping a difficult family life in online role-playing games. Some parents encourage their children’s online activity—no matter how questionable it may be—while others seek to monitor and control every keystroke. But, whether they’re using technology for hooking up, checking out, or maintaining control, everyone seems to be pretty miserable for it.
Somewhere in its dry discourse on the dangers of all things digital, Men, Women & Children does make some interesting (and—if you happen to be a parent—terrifying) points. Things have changed since the days when the whole family shared one phone line, we did our research at the library, and messages were sent through the U.S. Postal Service—and the film definitely brings those differences to light. As our methods of communication continue to change, it’s hard to know how to manage things like texting and social media (and our children’s use thereof) in a safe and healthy way. Unfortunately, though, the film doesn’t offer any suggestions or even the slightest bit of hope—just cringe-worthy examples of what not to do.
Of course, the film probably wasn’t meant to be an Internet safety video—but just as it isn’t especially informative, it isn’t especially entertaining, either. The writing lacks Reitman’s signature wit, and the characters are generally boring, pathetic, or just plain horrible. The adults are clueless (my personal favorite: the psychologist who’s shocked and amused to discover that “RL” stands for “real life”), while the teenagers tend to be vapid and self-obsessed.
To be fair, the characters aren’t all bad. Ansel Elgort’s disillusioned former football star Tim is smart and sweet and thoughtful, but there’s something so sluggish and lumbering about his performance that he’s maddening to watch. And while Tim’s would-be real-life girlfriend, Brandy (Kaitlyn Dever), could have an interesting story to tell, she’s overshadowed by the blonder, shallower teenage girls.
Once again, fans of Jason Reitman’s unconventionally clever films will be surprised and dismayed by his latest effort. A far cry from keenly observant and often wonderfully irreverent films like Thank You For Smoking and Up in the Air, it’s dreary and deliberate and just plain depressing—so much so that you may be tempted to pull out your phone to text your friends and scan your Facebook news feed while you wait for it to end.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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