lasting1

I liked this movie and first thought Justin Long and Rachel Wood were very mismatched. Changing my opinion early on, we realize that many people do not have a lot of confidence in finding love and dating in general. The couple meet in a local coffee shop were he finds her funny and engaging. He use resources on her Facebook page to have the courage to pursue her and invests all his energy in becoming all the things she likes on her Facebook interests. He's a movie writer and she loses her job in the coffee shop where they first met due to tardiness & he tracks her at a open acting forum and becomes diligent in learning many talents. Dancing, Rock climbing, camping, & guitar playing just to name a few. To know him is probably for some other movie, but he was a joy to see how dedicated he was to involve himself in all the hobbies and ambitions she has. I found it entertaining, somewhat predictable, but she also was aware of his charm no matter what his premise was. It was refreshing to see a couple develop a relationship no matter how flawed it was, and surely it was a novelty from the sexual posture all romantic comedies take on first.

I could not imagine Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy & Naomi Watts making a film together--what a match-up! Being good, loved, and saintly are within the realm of many of us human folk, but Bill Murray will not have it and plays a mean spirited ex-Vietnam Vet that has bad habits, is very hardened and says whatever he likes no matter who he insults. When a young boy and his Mom (Melissa) move in next door after a divorce, Vincent is obliged to help her for the extra money which he desperately needs to babysit till she comes home from her nursing job at a nearby hospital. He takes him to all the wrong places that Oliver should not participate in such as bars, horse-racing and fight lessons learning how to knock someone out. The journey slowly turns into a type of bond of total dysfunction, but they find the best in each others company and within weeks the saintless Vincent (Bill Murray) accidentally finds the child a blessing in his life. He has Naomi Watts as his Russian prostitute and disguises her as a cleaning lady/friend. This role was the best Bill Murray has developed in quite a while and aside from being a real jerk in so many of his actions, the extraordinary performance does bring a sentimental closure of how friendship can grow from all the wrong beginnings. I love Melissa McCarthy with her earthiness, comedy and the dramatic role is just sublime for her. She is just amazing in anything she does. I believe it's a thumbs up and you may even feel a little excess moisture in your eyes as you come to the final scenes of this emotionally satisfying movie.