Antiquities

The heart of this film is the writing. The cinematography is stunning. The film follows a romantic comedy formula but the characters make it an engaging experience.

How many who have lost parents were able to connect to Walt and understand his desire to know more about his father? I know I did. The writing was brilliant, the props were spot on, and the scenery was beautiful. I smiled, laughed and was brought to tears at the end. Great movie!

This movie reminds me of a Garrison Keillor skit from the Prairie Home Companion radio show. Great twists in the dialogue, humorous witty story telling designed to engage viewers in an immersive trip to odd likable characters working through their lives. I laughed many times at the writers intentionally landed jokes mocking Hallmark movies and so many direct homages to the Carol Burnett Show along with the whole radio era story telling that never once apologized for being a movie on the 21st century. I got it from the very first scene where they were going with this film and they totally got it right! Excellent job at speaking to the thousands of writers, radio shows and decades of creative entertainment that preceded the film industry. I send hugs out for this entire effort well done, well portrayed, and expert cinematic story telling.

Watching this movie is like being inserted into the middle of a psychiatric ward 1 hour after meds have been handed out! Transparent effort at trying to create bon homie among a disparate group of oddballs in small town America. Each character was given a 300 square foot stage to perform whatever character they wanted for 90 mins. You could tell they were "acting" as nowhere in this world would anybody ever come across this group of mentally unstable people. Each actor tried way too hard at being effortless in their craziness, too much going on. This type of movie has been done before with much more grace and real humanity.

Once you adapt to the slower pace the movie offers great laughs throughout.