An Invisible Sign

I'm really disappointed to see that this movie has such a low rating - it doesn't give the movie justice at all.

First of all, the story is unusual and well-told - I haven't read the book so I cannot compare but I suppose that the basis is very good because in general adaptations tend to be worse than original books, and this adaptation is pretty good. The film explores the idea of growing up - when does this moment come? What should happen to finally show us that we are adults ourselves, that there is no other grown-up around? This process of maturing of a person totally locked into her shell is very interesting. Secondly, I must say that I've never been Jessica Alba's fan but now I can say that she's not only pretty but she can act. Hope that she will have more films coming that actually involve acting. Thirdly, the ensemble cast gives a really good impression. There is no one who seems out of place. And finally, the film itself leaves you with such a warm and positive aftertaste that any faults that it has seem totally irrelevant.

Not a masterpiece but still a very good movie. 8/10

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?

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.

I so wanted to love this; how many films are there about math teachers connecting with their students. It's such a great idea. However, in the execution, the indie vibe goes from off-kilter to off-track and the film is weirdly pompous in its false modesty and humbleness.

Quite frankly after some initial interest it's biggest problem is boredom - neither the script, nor the events, nor the characterization hold the attention - and so what we end up is a lot of loose ends and ideas.

Jessica Alban does a fine job at the slightly emo OCD vibe but we never really connect with the cuteness, and all in all, it was a little too off-kilter for this viewer.

If you like indie films you may enjoy this - we just couldn't connect with it - and found it all trying too hard to be different, instead of using the film to show math as a tool for wider issues.

A woman-child, in pigtails the whole time, compulses by knocking and counting random numbers while depending on magical thinking. She has severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, debilitating anxiety, and is grossly stunted emotionally and mentally. Her father is completely disabled due to his own mental illness. So the film tries to make something of these very troubled people. However, it fails.

It is difficult to care about the main character since she barely utters a word and runs away from most anything, which voids meaningful character interaction. In fact, it's difficult to care about any of the characters. Most of the school children are written with cliché, and urine has its close-ups that do not advance the story. There are too many ridiculous plot points, like someone being hired for a sensitive position without an interview or credentials, a highly unlikely instance of weapon wielding, a sweetly stalking male, an older person leaving behind something hard-earned to get lucky, and an unbelievable ending to make your eyes roll out of your head.

Apparently in this filmmaker's world, home-study approval is not a requirement, much like teaching certifications...and worthwhile scripts. 2 out of 10.