Life as a Horse
Hello, Wilbur!!
"But father, you don't look like a horse to me!"
"But father, you don't look like a horse to me!"
Kevin Kline stars in this fantasy where he wakes up one day to find that he has turned into a talking horse. Oops, I'm sorry, my sources tell me that the title of this movie is actually "Life as a Mouse." So sorry. Kevin Kline stars in this fantasy where he wakes up one day to find that he has turned into a giant talking mouse. Oops, I think I've gotten the title wrong again. It's actually called "Life as a House." I did actually see this movie. Honestly. I was just trying to be goofy so brace yourself for the actual review...
Kevin Kline stars in this fantasy where he wakes up one day to find that he has turned into a talking house with a giant pane. He begs a little dog to chew out the window that's bothering him.
That's actually not what this movie is about. Sorry. I hope I haven't I lost your trust.
Kevin Kline actually stars as an architect, an amazing man wearing a three-day-old beard everyday, who had just lost his job. Almost immediately after he was fired, he collapsed on the sidewalk. When he got to the hospital, he discovered that he has only four months to live so he decided to build a house that he had been dreaming about for a number of years and to save his sixteen-year-old son, Hayden Christensen, from drugs and the "Goth" culture. Also from that stylish thumbtack in his chin (ouch!) Eventually, Kline's ex-wife shows up to help and maybe --- just maybe --- some old sparks might start flying.
Academy Award winner, Kevin Kline, and nominee, Kristen Scott Thomas both turn out marvelous performances. Hayden Christensen surprisingly shines as the troubled teenaged boy giving an almost remarkable performance nearly stealing the show! He never actually stole it though.
"Life as a House" is a truly thoughtful and a heartwarming motion picture and the premise never grows tedious. Although this film is not endearing. Kevin Kline, of course, dies at the end and, even though I watched the film with considerable interest, I did not feel sad! Director Irwin Winkler does not allow the audience to fall in love with the characters therefore the audience cannot fall in love with this movie. Perhaps Winkler should have taken out those awkward moments of humor and placed more emphasis on character development. Then maybe I would have felt sad when one of them died!
Actress Mary Steenburgen, who seemed to have sort of withdrawn from the Hollywood scene, plays a much unneeded supporting role. (A 40-something woman who has an affair with a teenaged boy). I think Winkler was trying to be humorous with this, but failed indubitably.
FINAL VERDICT: B-
You will not fall in love with "Life as the House," but at least you will be entertained and leave the theater with a warm, fuzzy feeling. So sweet! There was not enough emphasis placed upon the main characters.
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Starring:
Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, Hayden Christensen, Jena Malone, Mary Steenburgen, Mike Weinberg, Scotty Leavenworth, Ian Somerhalder, Jamey Sheridan
Directed by:
Irwin Winkler
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2001 drama
Rated R.
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Don Ignacio's score: B-