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The Descendants
- Review Date: November 16, 2011
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Devastating, moving dramedy about death and forgiveness.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this quietly powerful George Clooney dramedy from the director of Election and Sideways careens between dark and light moments in a snap -- and some of the dark moments are really dark. Because of this heaviness and the movie's mature subject matter (death, infidelity), The Descendants is too much for younger teens and tweens, even though the cast prominently features a 10-year-old (who cusses) and her older teen sister (played by The Secret Life of the American Teenager's Shailene Woodley). There's also a fair amount of swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t") and some underage drinking, including one scene in which a teen girl is caught drunk.
What's the story?
Real estate attorney Matt King (George Clooney) knows that he's never been the go-to parent for his two daughters, 10-year-old Scotty (Amara Miller), who's testing her boundaries with swearing and "mean girling," and 17-year-old Alexandra (Shailene Woodley), sent to boarding school after a bout with drugs and alcohol. Matt's wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), has been there for the girls, but now she's lying in a coma after a motorboat accident. Matt and Elizabeth's marriage had been floundering, eroded by too much work and not enough togetherness; still, he loves her. So when Alexandra tells him that Elizabeth had been cheating, it all starts to feel like a pile-on. What now? Meanwhile, Matt's cousins eagerly await his decision on another matter: Will he agree to sell the family's land holdings -- inheritance from their Hawaiian royal ancestors -- to a developer?
Is it any good?
THE DESCENDANTS, based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, unspools as if on island time, strolling barefoot on the beach with little regard to the clock. The voiceover is superfluous, and the tragic moments are rescued from the brink by humor that's sometimes too on the nose. It might be annoying, were it not for the fact that the film is also a transcendent, emotional powerhouse.
Lay the plots out on paper, and it's unbelievable how director Alexander Payne manages to cram them all in while ensuring that the movie's important moments remain authentic. Bravo! He doesn't hurry the layers as they pile on; he simply allows them to do as they will until the sum total suddenly, completely stuns. The biggest kudos belongs to the cast, who all seem to have simply decided to give themselves over to the characters. Even Clooney does away with his typical sophisticated swagger, clopping along on too-noisy flip-flops, wearing defiantly hokey Hawaiian shirts, and letting the gray settle in. It may be his most vulnerable role yet.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about The Descendants' messages. What is it saying about family? About the role of fathers? Are the characters intended to be role models?
How does the movie portray underage drinking? Are the consequences realistic?
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AGE
This Heavy, Dark Thinking Film is Great -for adults
The Descendants is a great movie that walks the tenuous balance between happiness and darkness and treats its delicate subject matter rawly. You will see each character with their greatness and failures plaid out in broad detain against the backdrop of gorgeous Hawaiian vistas. Truly this is a spectacular movie with fantastic acting, humor, sadness, and forgiveness. Not a movie for children.
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AGE
Subtle, oddly funny movie for older teens
Nuanced performances and frank family discussions make this a good choice for more mature teens. There is much swearing and discussions of infidelity and marriage troubles. Also there is clear reference to the privileges of money and power. The locale of Hawaii is almost like a supporting star, and really captures what I have seen of it. Surprising moments appear like quiet gems every once in awhile to move the story along, but for the most part they are natural and do not seem contrived. The film stayed with me, especially the work of Shailene Woodley and George Clooney. If you liked Up in the Air you will like this movie.
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AGE
Thought-Provoking and Beautiful Film
I know I've been handing out many positive reviews lately, but only because I know which movies to watch. This is a lovely film. The second half is much better than the first half. That said, it never really drags and has good cinematography, good acting, and absolutely Oscar-worthy editing. Critics don't lie, the public doesn't lie. There are a few concerns for parents, though. Lots of language, and almost all of the language is spoken by teens, so kids may receive mixed messages on profanity. It's very moving, and may even be too sad for younger viewers. It's really not only the language that makes it for older kids or teens; it's also the subject matter. Not for kids anyway, unless the child is very intellectual, intelligent, mature, and patient.
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AGE
Topics rich for family reflection & discussion
Great! A family pulls closer through a tragic event- something special and good evolves out of a dysfunctional lifestyle. The tragedy seems like a corrective force that positively effects the lives of several families.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 18, 2011
AGE
:D
Really moving. A must see.
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AGE
Simply Amazing
This is a beautiful and utterly relevant film. I beg you to let your kid see this. I laughed, I cried, and I gobbled down popcorn. Do not let the language prevent your child(ren) from seeing this film, they will have missed out on one of the best movies of their life.
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AGE
One of 2011's best offerings
"The Descendants" will definitely pull at your heart, but the rich characters in it that make it so relatable make the journey all worth it. The scenery's beautiful, the script is great, with good lines (Grampa says to Sid "I'm gonna hit you now" and punches him in the face, my favorite part) and outstanding acting with Oscar-worthy performances from Clooney and especially Woodley. Take older teens for this one.
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AGE
Shailene Woodley Stole the Entire Film
The thing that surprised me about The Descendants was that it seemed like the cast was way too weak compared to Shailene Woodley (including George Clooney). Ms. Woodley was incredible and spontaneous and made everyone else look like they were in some sort of community theatre piece. The Descendants did do wonderful things for me though. The writing was magnificent and it makes you cry and laugh and feel the pain that this family goes through. My major complaint was that while I was watching it, I knew that I was watching a movie, which is not a good thing. When watching a movie that strives to be as touching and good as it is, it's incredible when you find yourself lost in the story, but I didn't find myself in that situation. I definitely recommend this film to all, yet it has its minor flaws.
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AGE
Sad and good at the same time. Bring tissues.
This movie was very good and very sad. The movie is about a dad/husband who is coming to gripes that his unfaithful wife is going to die from a boating accident. His two children are very troubled and I have a big feeling it's from the fact that the mom neglected them (to
cheat, extreme sports) and the dad who is a
workaholic and also had his head in the sand about
everything. Once the husband finds out about his wife's
lover, he goes on a mission to confront/meet the guy and takes his two troubled daughters with him along for
the bumpy ride. The girls cuss a lot and the younger one
is very sexualized. Their is a slacker friend, Sid, of the older
daughter who is excellent as her faithful friend who is
with her and the dad and the other daughter the whole
time through this journey. There are very sad parts like in
the hospital when the family is saying goodbye. Bring
tissues and I'm not kidding about you'll need to use
them.
Clooney is also very good in his role as clueless
dad/husband. I just didn't get the feeling that he was crushed his wife was cheating throughout the movie as they were having marriage problems anyways. The scene
where he says goodbye to her in the hospital is just
heartbreaking.
Don't bring anyone under 16 atleast.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 26, 2012
AGE
A Must See
I think it is a great movie that I could watch over and over again, it is a comedy with drama. It gives you an idea of what Hawaii is really like I saw it and enjoyed it. It left me with tears and a smile on my face :), there is a lot of bad language but it gives kazam!
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| Studio: | Fox Searchlight |
| Director: | Alexander Payne |
| Cast: | Beau Bridges, George Clooney, Shailene Woodley |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 115 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 16, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | March 13, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language, including some sexual references |
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