SnoopyStyle
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.
Prashant singh
First of all, I am a Big Fan of Jeff Daniels & Lauren Graham....and I am an ardent reader who loves Books like anything! And, the combo of four (Fourth, being the GOD!) made it deadly tempting for me to watch it all the more! Its a very sweet movie with its own pace showing when we ordinary people at times go through the Solitary phase of our lives...I won't start writing about the story or the characters but would leave it as something to look forward to. Its movie about all of us...searching for answers, looking up to God to help us find them....and in a way to find our own selves back.So If you love s simple, sweet story, love Books, Love God....then do watch it! Its not a master piece of any sort, just a simple sweet...good heart felt movie.
Jay Harris
This was released on 6 screens in late July 2009, after being in various film festivals,It left the theatres 3 weeks later having a poor box office. Title changed to THE ANSWER MANSimple reason why,there are no major actors in any role. Jeff Daniels is the lead. He is OK BUT he really is not a leading man.The female roles are done by actresses little known to me, except for Nora Dunn. The writer/director in his maiden effort is John Hindman.I give him an E for effort.Newcomer --- Lou Taylor Pucci is quite good as the alcoholic book store owner & very young Max Autisell as young Alex is adorable. The film had possibilities but has too many F words to really be likable. Filmed in Philadelphia,Nice cinematography.Ratings: **1/2 (out of 10) 73 points (out of 100) IMDb 6 (out of 10)
John_T_Chance
If the purpose of the film was to make the viewer relate to the film exactly the way a reader would react to meeting fictional writer Arlen Faber then mission accomplished. I was deeply disappointed in this movie. As it unfolds, you expect the film to deliver something profound and moving. It never does nor even comes close. It's clichéd filled and aimless. It makes no real statement about faith and offers nothing of substance. The movie revolves are three characters and you never really emotionally connect with two of the three. The exception being the alcoholic bookstore owner, that character was well written. Unfortunately, the main leads are disappointingly weak. Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham deliver wonderful performances as expected but there really wasn't anything extraordinary for them to work with in terms of the script.A big disappointment.
AD
