Goodbye to All That

GOODBYE TO ALL THAT explores the aftermath of the abrupt dissolution of an 11-year marriage. Blind-sided, Otto Wall (Paul Schneider) receives the devastating news that his marriage is over from his wife's, Annie's, (Melanie Lysnskey), therapist (Celia Weston). This announcement has a profound affect on, not only Otto, but the couple's precocious daughter, Edie (a delightful performance from Audrey Scott) and makes for very funny, and at times, sad consequences as Otto discovers the rapturous joys and painful pitfalls of dating and single parenthood in our modern age.

4 stars to the strong cast that also includes Heather Graham and Anna Camp. 4 stars to Angus MacLachlan, writer and director, who also brought us the beloved JUNEBUG. And lastly 4 stars to the lovely North Carolina setting.

Try to expect from the film what the title signifies. Then this will be a decent film to have. As we know there's no big names in the cast, as well as from behind the camera. But the whole film discloses is what people do when their marriage fails, in order to move on. That's not it, there's a message, that it ends with, especially about the children of the splitting couple. Seems it is a nice one from that angle, though overall film is not a clever enough to attract all kinds of viewers.

When his wife suddenly breaks the news that she wants a divorce, the husband in a surprise tries his best to convince her not to, but nothing works. All the separation affair can be solved easily as they have a good understanding. So they try to move on, particularly the father who meets many women, including his old school and college mates. But what they are not seeing is their young daughter who is affected by all this. So where the story heads from there is told in the remaining.

For the first time direction, this is not a bad film. A low budget, short film with a simple storyline. Well intended film on what it wanted to say. But nothing was told straight, everything was about not being single, that means dating and sex was the priority. Only in the last ten minutes it tries to turn around. That's where the story and the title overlaps. Really the nice performances, particularly Paul Schneider, who has been seen mostly in the supporting roles. So I think it is worth a watch if you are not forcing yourself.

6/10

One of the most successful things about the movie is that after all we've seen Otto go through, when he's presented with a major fork-in-the-road life choice, the viewer may still wonder which way he'll go. The scenes with Otto and his daughter were most affecting. The daughter is the most fully-realized female character; the other women are there for Otto to bounce off of, literally and figuratively. I found myself thinking about Otto after I'd seen the movie, recalling the lows he endures, the conversation in the back yard where he confesses his feelings of being adrift, and then how he ultimately responds. For me the statement made might be summed up as "a meaningful life derives from doing your duties and paying attention to others."

What appears on the surface to be a quirky slice of life movie turns out to be a thoughtful and sensitive look at finding romance and adventure following the breakup of a marriage. Walter's encounters with women are sexy, bizarre and wonderfully funny while at the same time he struggles to become a successful single parent to his nine old daughter and move on with his life. Scenes featuring Social media and sitting in front of the screen as Walter dabbles in connecting online are pitch perfect, as are his efforts to be his better self, navigating the murky waters of women looking for excitement. Marvelous writing and laid back directorial style.

Go see this movie!

And the message is:

Men should never marry!!!!

It does not matter how nice, sweet and beautiful their female partners are.

The point is that after a few years, sex gets boring, life gets drys,all excitement and fun are over.

Wives become hags that suck out all the fun from everything, from simple guy's hobbies to life itself.

Now about GTAT: The film was OK, nothing special, but not bad either.

It is OK for a rainy, cold Saturday