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One of the best movies I have seen for some time!

A mother with her teenage daughter are victims of bad luck and poverty and so they go in search of a new life starting with a road trip.

Not only is this an absorbing drama but the acting from every player is first rate, with a highly intelligent script and super presentation..

The picture deserves a top rating as:

i) it graphically shows how poverty can and often will destroy individuals,and

ii) how prejudice against women and gender is so unfair, and

iii) the loving bond between parent and child is illustrated superbly.

This is not a unhappy film, quite the reverse . It is an uplifting movie done with guts, humor and grace.

9/10.

Katie Holmes directional debut film. Adapted from the novel of the same name. I really had not planned to love it. I thought it was another passing-by film in my life. Surprisingly, it was so much better. I simply loved it. Because anything about life struggle really intrigues me. Especially the struggles of the aging people, women, children themes.

This was about a mother and her teenage daughter. After escaping from her latest boyfriend, they decide to hit the road, travelling randomly. That reminded me 'The Glass Castle'. Their road adventure came to an end at some point, then set a tone similar to 'Safe Haven'. So they end up in a diner. Their lives begin to take shape around it. With so many turns, where the remaining narration heads were told by deciding their fate.

For some people, it was a drama where nothing much happens. But I felt every moment. The life does not just change like turning a coin to the other side. That's the detail, especially the relationship with others were nicely built. The whole story was narrated from the kid's perspective, like how she saw her mother struggling with boyfriends, alcohol and finally finding their own place to call home to lead a normal life.

It was almost a sentimental film. They should have created a more melodic track or borrowed one from the outside for it, because it deserves one. That would have set a tone for the film. It was just like another 'Infinitely Polar Bear', except it was mother-daughter thing. I think families would love such film. This really says that Katie Holmes has potential to be a great director. She also jointly produced it. Believe me. It is a totally underrated film. All I say is, it's a must see. If you listen to the haters, then you're missing out something wonderful!

8.5/10

... mom and daughter coming of age movie. My mom and I struggled growing up and I get it. If you like gritty independent films with truth in them, this is for you. Plus the entire cast is amaZing.

I liked all the characters. The actors all acted very nicely. I think Katie turned her best performance yet. I wish it could have been longer. It was a mother daughter story and that is who we learned about the most. I loved the combination of actors you wanted to know more because the performances drew you to them. For a first time director Katie seemed to bring out some hidden talent in Mark Consuelos. Stefania LaVie Owen is believable as Katie's daughter. Richard Kind seems to always turn in really nice performance and Eve Lindley was perfect for her role. Luke Wilson's performance was probably why I gave it a 7 . He good but not as good as the others. I liked the music and the location went with the story. The editing seemed to flow I've watched some independent movies were it seemed choppy or timing between scenes was to slow or to fast. I did not get bored. I watched to the end.

How many times have I seen the formula for this film? Answer: Too many times.

An alcoholic woman goes on the run with her bratty but more responsible teenage daughter in a crappy car. Along the way they get involved in escapades involving slimy boyfriends, petty shoplifting and a transsexual waitress. The mother's currency of choice is sex, and she utilises it relentlessly to try and pay for her motor repairs, keep her new job and house etc. while her petulant child just mopes around and complains. A likable pair, they ain't.

A shaggy dog story at heart with a few easily navigable pitfalls along the way, the movie struggles to hold your attention during it's far too drawn-out 100 minute runtime, finally even switching the personalities of the main duo near the end to create some artificial tension. This is done with absolutely no foreshadowing or fanfare, proving that the director Katie Holmes (who drove Tom Cruise to jump onto Oprah's sofa. As you do) cares a lot more about the predictable banalities of the plot than anything approaching character development.

I'm sure there are much better films of this ilk about. What are they? No idea. How's about you do your own homework, lazy? 5/10