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    Ok, so everyone knows why I went to see this movie.  I went for the same reason that almost everyone else did...the cast.  I mean c'mon, everyone has this love for Haley Joel since the Sixth Sense, if not all the way from Forrest Gump.   And then there's Kevin Spacey who seems to be unstoppable in his success in movies.   Even if his movies are bad, he's great in them.  And although she's never been one of my favorites, Helen Hunt is charming to a good portion of people.  So, I saw the movie when it first came out.

    So, let the criticism begin.  What's with Jon Bon Jovi, being who he is, in his small role he seemed more distracting than anything else.  I'm not saying that his character (Haley's estranged father) wasn't necessary, I just think they should have casted differently because most people still see him as part of Bon Jovi.   I expected him to belt into "Wanted Dead or Alive" at any moment.   Kinda sad, because he's not a bad actor.  He was pretty good in Moonlight and Valentino.  Next, I'm not gonna say what happened, but what a cheese / cornball ending.  A man behind me in the theater actually laughed at what should have been a very dramatic moment.  And for good reason, the rest of the audience took follow and laughed too.  It was just a little too over the top. 

    Speaking of over the top, Haley Joel I do believe is talented and I don't know whether or not to blame his performance on him or on the director.  He played the whole movie at two notes.  What I mean is that he had two emotions he played.  It didn't work because he seemed to either be this really basic kid his age ( like in the television interview) who can't say anything without giggling or he was either this very deep and somber young man spouting words of wisdom.  It made his performance sit funny.  Also, could we cut down on the long drawn out crying moments .... PLEASE?

    Kevin Spacey, great as usual.  Again, a little too much crying for my taste (not his fault though...thank the writers)

    Next, Helen Hunt.  Considering I don't like her that much because she always seems to play such similar roles recently;  A woman that you can sympathize with but still seems to be kind of a bitch around the edges (refer to Mad About You, As Good As it Gets, etc.), I still thought she was pretty good in this.   Fabulous makeup job btw, on the morning shot of her.  You'll know what I mean when you see the movie.  Other than that my only other comments on her performance comes down to her drinking.  I have fortunately have not been a witness to an alcoholic...not that I know of.  I don't know how alcoholics react when they can't have a drink but for some reason it was hard to swallow that she basically couldn't breathe without having a swig.  But like I said, what do I know?

    I seem to be bashing the movie, but I'm not really.   It disappointed me greatly, that's why I'm reeming it.  But it's not horrible.   The acting IS good, just a little over done at times.  The story line is an enteresting one, minus the ending.  I like uplifting, you can change the world type stories.  There's also some great comic relief in this movie, for example the hospital scene.  Maybe I'll come to regret giving the movie this grade and will want to up it, but I just expected more with so much talent in one movie.