The Answer Man

Alen Farber (Jeff Daniels) is a financially successful author of a twenty (20) year old renowned spiritual book titled "God and Me" but his personal life is in shambles to which we won't discover the reason why until near the end of the film. As both he and his life both seem to be miserable the only person he wants to interact with and even then begrudgingly and only out of necessity is his agent Terry Fraser (Nora Dunn).

Arlen eventually ends up allowing two new people into his personal space.

One of the two people he becomes attached to is a personable chiropractor named Elizabeth (Lauren Graham) who is raising her young shy son as a single parent. The other person who gradually wins Arlen's trust is a local book store owner named Kris Lucas (Lou Taylor Pucci).

All three main characters have troubles but if we as the audience cannot recognize even one of these characters flaws in our own personal lives than kudos to you for living the perfect life.

This is a warm and feel good film with a relatively happy ending and this is the type of film that Mrs. Shullivan and I enjoy most. A film we can relate to with real people who experience real life challenges/problems who eventually help each other live a fuller life in a happier world.

I give it a much appreciated 8 out of 10 IMDb score.

When Shatner told Trekkies in an SNL skit to "get a life" he really meant it, and writer Arlen Faber(Jeff Daniels) really meant it in this film too when he said something similar to all the bookstore-signing attendees who were as fervent as any Trekkie, and all waiting excitedly for a signed copy of his blockbuster God's Answers book they could then drool over forever as they savored God's cosmic answers to every little thing in life, as told by God to Arlen Faber, who "actually spoke with God"(not!). You will have to see it to fully understand this part.

I totally liked this film for about 5/6th of it, as it's story's cleverness reminded me of the unique and quirky magic of Waitress or Big Fish, or even one of the best Woody Allan tales. But, I thought the ending was flatter and more forced compared to the rest of it, and needed a more inspired and extended premise and execution for fullest success. It seemed rushed and inconsistent with the great buildup to it.

Good magic overall but should have had a more fulfilling ending. It deserved better.

In 1988, Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels) wrote the spirituality book "Me and God" which became a best seller and a worldwide success. It's 20 years later and his identity is still a secret. His agent Terry Fraser (Nora Dunn) says he is beyond the world or possessions but in reality, he's more of a misanthrope. His mailman (Tony Hale) is a fan but thinks he's Arlen's assistant. Kris Lucas (Lou Taylor Pucci) returns from rehab to find his bookstore closed for 27 days after his assistant Dahlia (Kat Dennings) lost the keys. He is struggling with sobriety while living with his drunken father. Arlen is so frustrated that he tries to give away a stack of his books to Kris but Kris refuses. Arlen throws out his back and gets single-mom chiropractor Elizabeth (Lauren Graham). Anne (Olivia Thirlby) is her receptionist.

The good aspect is the abundance of good actors in the cast. I love many of these actors. The pairing of Daniels and Graham is a great start. There are probably one or two too many characters. This could have been a nice rom-com. However, it tries to do so many things with these many characters. The theological stuff doesn't really work. It's too disruptive and Kris' struggle is distracting. In the end, this doesn't work quite enough.

Call it what you want "The Answer Man" or "Arlen Faber" this is an interesting drama that's blended with fun and drama that teaches us a little about life proving that everyone should grow. Jeff Daniels is Arlen Faber an author who had a highly successful book series that branched off from his best seller "Me and God" an inspirational book that influenced many. And now on the 20th anniversary many feel Arlen is the man with the answers. Only as fate would have it his back goes out, leading him to a visit to chiropractic care. Upon the visit his care taker is Elizabeth(the beautiful and attractive Lauren Graham)who's a single mom from San Francisco just moved to Philadelphia and she's also raising her seven year old son and this little boy is searching for meaning.

Along the way an interesting subplot occurs as Arlen's life also intersects with Kris(Lou Taylor)a young man out of alcohol rehab searching for meaning when he goes back to his book store as Arlen often supplies him books for Kris's questions! You see that too Arlen is full of himself and lonely as this grown man even collects monster movie action figures! Only little by little he discovers some attraction to Elizabeth as the two date even though it seems awkward. As Both Elizabeth and Kris hope Arlen has answers and it's clear he doesn't.

It shows that no matter how knowledgeable that one appears they don't know it all and no one has all the answers. It does one good to be normal and get out of their shell just as Arlen sees in the end it's clear you learn life as you go and everyone is different. Overall good film that touches and it proves good lesson points of life. And it's good to see Lauren Graham at work again.

Jeff Daniels stars in this light drama about a man who purportedly talked to God and wrote a bestselling book 20 years ago. Now both he, a chiropractor with her son, and a young man all of whom are experiencing challenges in their lives meet to face their own inner ghosts. The Answer Man is a refreshing, creative and distinctly different drama that nevertheless ends on a rather non-mainstream, non-rom-com note that either reflects a more authentic examination of life or a slightly jarring diversion from popular expectations.