An Invisible Sign

Jessica Alba's character and cut-price Mark Ruffallo tribute act guy are at the movies. They're both talking over the film being "kooky" and "charming".

Some guy behind them asks them to stop talking. Ruffalo-lite tells him to get another seat, throws popcorn at him and then nearly starts a fight with him.

I mean, c'mon! Do they honestly think that movie fans watching the film are gonna warm to that kind of a-holeish behaviour?! Just seemed to me the film showed utter contempt for people who actually want to watch films without jerks talking over them. Why get so bent out of shape over one particular scene? Cos it's a waste. Little things like that can wreck a film. What the hell was the director thinking?

Definitely worth watching. The best word to describe it is 'interesting'. It seems quite slow sometimes, though never boring, just more character-driven than plot-driven for a large portion of the film - although more happens towards the end.

The actors playing the film's central/crucial characters played their roles well, and most had interesting, thought-provoking roles. Sophie Nyweide in particular was excellent as Lisa. To me, the film revolved around her and Mona, played well by Jessica Alba. Their relationship was interesting, especially alongside the film's comments on becoming and being a grown up. Lisa's character alone was one of the main things that kept me hooked when I was watching it; children's roles don't often go that deep in character. That, as well as Mona's views on numbers and any of the final thoughts the film leaves you with, makes An Invisible Sign something new and refreshing.

I didn't leave with a new favourite, but I'm very glad I watched it. It's not the type of film to suit everyone, but I recommend giving it a chance.

An Invisible Sign is one of those films you kind of wish you had never seen. There are plenty of movies worse than this one; but this one tries so very hard to be both loved and cherished that it leaves one feeling used.

First-time feature-film director, Marilyn Agrelo (she had earlier directed the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom), uses so much saccharine in trying to sweeten Sign's audience into loving and liking and feeling for and/or sorry for this odd assortment of characters that one begins to wish strychnine had been used instead. In real-life, NONE of these eccentric characters would come across as likable and so one has to force himself/herself into finishing this film.

Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four, Sin City, Never Been Kissed) plays Mona Gray, an odd-duck of a character who is kicked-out of her house by her parents years after her genius mathematician father has suffered a nervous breakdown (she is kicked-out for no real reason other than she is 20 and her mom isn't likable). Lucky Mona, though (!), as her mother has helped get her daughter a job as the math teacher at the local elementary school ... Mona having no degree isn't a problem (Mom lied saying she had one) as the school never looks into her past (I'm not kidding).

It is at school/work surrounded by kids with greater problems than her own that Mona begins to wake-up to life and find purpose and meaning beyond a search for numbers. Mona also meets a fellow teacher played by Chris Messina (Julie & Julia, Monogamy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) who becomes interested in her odd manners and seeks out her friendship. Just as these last few sentences suggest, An Invisible Sign IS oddly disjointed and filled with scenarios and situations that don't really go together. It is as if the film were pieced together because of "cute, little moments" ... instead of giving us a cohesive and plausible story.

There is little-to-no charm here and the entire thing feels tried and odd to me. I believe Messina's character was written/created for the sole purpose of having a sane individual in the film (yes ... groan). Alba has tried drama in the past and has come across marginally successful at times; but An Invisible Sign doesn't help her resume. It is almost too bad this one wasn't invisible.

This is a warm and lovely story about a special woman navigating the world. The characters are likable, and I feel connected with them.

Yeah, main character was called many times weirdo - by young children, which teacher she was. That self was weird too - don't think that it is something happening often in some elementary school, in any country.

And here is main problem with this movie - overdone, to make some dramatic effect, but just in wrong, unrealistic way. Worst was that bringing of axe in classroom - and yes, those who expected that there will be something there with that axe were right - sadly - that was just way too stoopid. And clearly it is on writers. Little less on direction and I can not blame actors, except that took roles in this .

Well, I guess that Jessica Alba wanted some more serious role, without being sexy and like. But whole thing works not as comedy - really little funny moments. As drama it is overdone, unrealistic. Math is not only numbers and adding, subtract - but there are probably people which really try to explain everything with numbers.

Well, message is clear, despite all flaws. I will not write about it here.

With little more effort by writers, maybe with some feedback to them this could be much better.