areehal

So who was the biggest imbecile connected with the making of this mediocre film?

Let's start with the chief culprit, Seth Rogen - possibly the worst actor out there and apparently also the worst writer since he also collaborated on the script. Then there are the producers who conned the studios into shelling out money for this rubbish. Of course, the direction by Michael Gondry, whoever he is, is equally to blame.

This is one of those films where you think it can't possibly get worse but shocks you by sinking to lower and lower depths with every scene.

Fortunately, I never saw this at the theatre. I bought the 3D Bluray on clearance simply to see if the 3D was any good. The opening credits and Bluray menus actually look really cool in 3D. The cars and special effects also look fabulous in 3D. Seth Rogen isn't helped by depth, however, he is grotesque and unattractive enough in two dimensions, never mind three. Who in their right mind would cast him as a leading man?

So my plan is to create an edited 3D digital file that has about 20 minutes of the cool 3D stuff and then cremate the BluRay.

I watched this film for the 3D, the CGI, and set design. It delivers on all three fronts.

Unfortunately, it also comes with actors, a screenwriter, and a director. All three are failures.

Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana give decent performances but the rest of the main actors are abysmal. Director Justin Lin must surely take the blame. Either he is inexperienced or totally inept. Then there is the "paint by numbers" screenplay that strings together every cliche of the action genre. I assume screenwriter Simon Pegg was enjoying a few drinks while he had ChatGPT churn out this rubbish. Certainly, no human intellect is in evidence. As we know, studio executives can't tell the difference so the ultimate shame falls on the producers. That leaves the viewers. Well we also know there are lots of mediocre people out there, so there will always be an appreciative audience for mindless onscreen mayhem and destruction. Fortunately, many smart people have seen the film and detested it and I enjoyed reading their reviews.

Ultimately this is a melodramatic soap but it is so well done and the production values are so high that it compares well to BBC-Netflix-Amazon series rather than the rubbish we see on American networks. In some ways, it's the Chinese Madmen.

I was initially intrigued because I wanted to see a portrayal of Chinese life by Chinese producers for a Chinese audience, rather than a western interpretation. It is based in Shanghai and we get to see many beautiful shots of the city. The offices are beautiful, the streets are spotless, there is no air pollution, parking is a cinch and there are no poor people to jar the aesthetics. So, ok, it's a fantasy world but it's a Chinese fantasy so in a way it's authentic. Ironically, then, the fantasy is to be American. Whatever the politically situation in China, it is clear, from this highly acclaimed (in China) TV series that culturally the USA (or more specifically Hollywood) has won! Western clothes, cars, music, fast food, toys, cosmetics, shoes, etc... are what the viewers aspire to.

So apart from the anthropological aspect, how is it as entertainment? Totally engaging! - the inaccurate and sometimes comical subtitles not withstanding. The acting, direction, cinematography, set design, dialog, and plot are all world class.

The title refers to the main protagonist's life before and after a tumultuous divorce. Her good looks eased her into a life of upper middle class bliss where shopping, eating at fine restaurants, turning up her nose at the common folk, showing off to her family were her primary occupations. There are half a dozen other main characters. As the story progressives each of these characters' multiple facets are sympathetically and honestly revealed. There are a couple of ancillary characters that are perhaps one dimensional but it seems that is deliberately done for comic effect. The main characters all have complexity and nuances and flaws just like all of us. It's easy to empathize with their lives and the situations they find themselves in.

The complexity and heartbreak of divorce between loving parents with children involved is so well portrayed it will bring tears to anyone who has empathy.