Vida Real

I think 20 -30 minutes more would have really made this an even stronger movie, giving more background, character development and helping round out the end of the show with a little more clear resolution, as it felt like some pieces were missing. But if was still really good and got me in the gut with regard to grief, broken relationships, and how to move on from our past toward something better. I felt it was really authentic and honest. I really enjoyed it. Some of the scenes were really grounded and felt very real, leaving the viewer time to really feel the emotion of the characters as they tried to find a way forward.

This is the second David Anderson film I've seen (check out "Boats Against the Current" with Jason Ritter). Anderson has this sublime way of evoking subtext in his stories that I've come to really treasure. This film has the added delight of presenting reality TV in a way that's not quite parody, but not quite naturalism either. It makes for an interesting contrast for the narrative, which explores the depths of grief. All in all, I found this film evocative, unique and deftly made.

I found myself totally engaged in the story and cared about the characters. It has a good balance of humor and engaging drama to propel it forward and make it a totally great viewing experience. I loved the acting; Jane Lynch and John Heard round out a sold cast. I liked Matthew Morrison on Glee, but here he gets to show a wider range of his talents. I also thought the cinematography was great. Being from the Midwest I so enjoyed the landscape and wanted to be on that lake!!

This is a great watch. A moving story with honest portrayals of grief and a tribute to those who have to each find their own different way forward. We laughed out loud. Wish I could melt into the family's cabin in northern Minnesota. The commentary on the soullessness of the reality competition world is right on. Loved it.

I spent a lot of time fast forwarding during this because some parts were just flat and I was expecting something more. Maybe I was expecting a bit more depth from the other characters (the only one who seemed to have it was Kate) and I wanted to see the connection between the reality show and actual reality a bit more clearly. It's as if the movie needed about 10 more minutes for us to have an ah-ha moment. It really just fell flat for me.