I'd Like to Be Alone Now

source: I'd Like to Be Alone Now

Most people would be able to relate to this family satire, and probably enjoy it more than I did. Family issues surface after a funeral. There's a lot of bickering, and not much grief. Every member of the family, including the maid, is selfishly dealing with their own issues, rather than support the grieving member. One couple complains about having to "live out of their suitcase" while contractors are building their closet, the parents are in the midst of separation because the mother is loud and overbearing, another couple has commitment issues, and so on - you get the picture. They all seem incapable to consider others, although in the end they care for each other, at least a little bit. There are a few "hehe" moments of humor, but not enough to make this movie worth watching. When the member of the family who lost both his wife and baby in an accident comes out of his room, where he retreated for some quiet from his bickering family, he seems right as rain. Apparently, he needed only a couple of weeks to get over the death of his loved ones, and talks about them very matter-of-factly. Then all the problems abruptly disappear for everyone, and they proceed to celebrate an engagement. The mourning for the wife and baby is glossed over, and too soon forgotten by the "caring" husband and his family. I was put off by the tip given in the movie for illegal immigrants to lie to the immigration officials if they are caught. As someone who went through immigration LEGALLY, I have little sympathy for those who cross the border illegally (and thus jumping the line), and then act as victims, WHINING about how difficult it is to break the law.

I understand that the contrast between the grieving husband and father and the family and friends superficiality is part of what makes the movie compelling. I do feel that some of the dialogue was flat and the dark comedy might have been better if the extent of the loss was not so huge. Perhaps if only the wife had died? So in the end it felt as if the supporting family and friends were way too self centred given the heaviness of the grief that should have been there.

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source: I'd Like to Be Alone Now

Most people would be able to relate to this family satire, and probably enjoy it more than I did. Family issues surface after a funeral. There's a lot of bickering, and not much grief. Every member of the family, including the maid, is selfishly dealing with their own issues, rather than support the grieving member. One couple complains about having to "live out of their suitcase" while contractors are building their closet, the parents are in the midst of separation because the mother is loud and overbearing, another couple has commitment issues, and so on - you get the picture. They all seem incapable to consider others, although in the end they care for each other, at least a little bit. There are a few "hehe" moments of humor, but not enough to make this movie worth watching. When the member of the family who lost both his wife and baby in an accident comes out of his room, where he retreated for some quiet from his bickering family, he seems right as rain. Apparently, he needed only a couple of weeks to get over the death of his loved ones, and talks about them very matter-of-factly. Then all the problems abruptly disappear for everyone, and they proceed to celebrate an engagement. The mourning for the wife and baby is glossed over, and too soon forgotten by the "caring" husband and his family. I was put off by the tip given in the movie for illegal immigrants to lie to the immigration officials if they are caught. As someone who went through immigration LEGALLY, I have little sympathy for those who cross the border illegally (and thus jumping the line), and then act as victims, WHINING about how difficult it is to break the law.

I understand that the contrast between the grieving husband and father and the family and friends superficiality is part of what makes the movie compelling. I do feel that some of the dialogue was flat and the dark comedy might have been better if the extent of the loss was not so huge. Perhaps if only the wife had died? So in the end it felt as if the supporting family and friends were way too self centred given the heaviness of the grief that should have been there.