Au bout du désespoir

I hate movies where I'm supposed to feel one way about a particular character. . . and I feel the exact opposite.

It was pretty clear to me that I was supposed to empathize and root for Emily. However, as the movie progressed, it became equally clear to me that while I felt sorry for her a number of times, I did not like her. And in fact, more often not, I wanted to strangle her.

My sympathy was almost entirely for her boyfriend Mike (played beautifully by Eric Close). That surprised me. I had read the other reviews, and figured I'd at least to bop Mike upside the head.

Not this time (well, aside from the groveling). I wish I had liked Emily, but I didn't. And unfortunately, I found myself fast-forwarding through most of her scenes, to the scenes which featured Mike.

Personally, I would have found a movie about a struggling young musician, trying to balance the demands of his own dreams with the demands of his insecure girlfriend, a lot more interesting. After viewing 'The Sky is Falling,' I have no doubt that Eric Close has the ability to carry such a film.

Good movie, you could totally identify with the character feeling left out and like a failure when she can't get a book deal, all her friends are either getting married, having a baby, or rising up the corporate ladder, and her boyfriend(hottie Eric Close) won't commit. Have a box of kleenex ready.

Director Florrie Laurence is a girl. I am not. That said, this hour and a half Ally McBeal After School Special about how life-is-all-about-living-it-while-you-can is pretty good. While I'm not a girl, this movie made me cry like one. It had that not so rare blend of heart warming humor and sentiment that keeps Kleenex in business. Sky ends up being a well directed "what have you done for you lately" piece of advice.

It's a fun film that steps on your funny bone to get a better grip on your heart strings. Entertaining turns by Teri Garr as the psycho-oops, psychic-mom, Howard (Johnny Fever) Hesseman as the dad named Yogi, and even Chris Elliott keep this film lively throughout. As a fan of the now defunct Melrose Place (face it, the show was over when Alison stopped drinking), I wanted to see more of Laura Leighton in the bright-spirited Jiminy Cricket friend and supporter role.

One more notable: Joe Camp (of Benji fame) was the Animal Wrangler for Sammy the sheepdog who provides as fine an acting job as any four legged creatue this side of "As Good As It Gets". Oh, don't see this one by yourself if you're already lonely. Do go if you need a good cry on top of a good ha-ha.

Howard Hesseman as Yogi Cook is the only reason to watch this self-important piece of fluff. Hesseman has been a leading counter-culture figure since the late 1960s. He was a member of the improv group "the Committee" for 10 years in the sixties and seventies. What he brings to this film is indescribable. Absolutely indescribable. One shudders to think what The Sky Is Falling would have been without this wise old man's presence. One thing is certain: It would not be worth watching. Heck, even with Hesseman it is barely worth watching. I'm not sure who their audience was. Nonetheless, I award this one a rating of seven out of ten.

Like the reviewer before me, I caught this treasure of a film on the WE channel. As a twenty something writer that has a knack for questioning her life, her ability and her relationships, I related to Dedee Pfeiffer's character so much that I found myself crying numerous times throughout the film. And I've only cried through maybe six films in my entire life.

It should be noted that some viewers just won't "get it", as mentioned before. However, if you've found yourself in that state of life where nothing you've done seems comparable to those around you and you can't seem to get a grip on the fact that it matters more what you think than others around you, not only is this film for you - it's a must see of the highest order.

Emily (Dedee Pfeiffer) is a struggling writer who feels she has finally reached the end of her rope. She has all the textbook symptoms: The boyfriend that is even more confused that she is, the mother who assures her that everything will be alright even though the walls seem to be crashing in around her and, on top of it all, she just can't seem to convince herself, nor anyone else, that she is a talented writer.

What we get instead of the "oh so familiar" romantic comedy is a moral dilemma of the highest order. If you died tomorrow, would you be happy with the life you have lived? As many found them asking themselves after 911, Emily must answer this question by the end of the movie as she all the while contemplates ending it all herself.

The performances in this jewel are top notch - Teri Garr as the eccentric mother, Howard Hesseman as the absent father and Eric Close as the confused, musician boyfriend.

It's absolutely necessary to see this film. Even if you come away with something not so grand as some of the other reviewers, you will at least have given yourself the chance to come away with something that might just change your life.