Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Awkward dark comedy has heavy themes, language, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Long Way Down
What's the Story?
A LONG WAY DOWN is the adaptation of best-selling English author Nick Hornby's 2005 novel about four strangers who meet on the night they all plan to commit suicide by leaping off of the same fictional London building, Topper's House. Martin Sharp (Pierce Brosnan) had it all -- a top morning talk show, a beautiful wife, two young girls -- until an affair with an underage girl sent him to prison and ruined his life. He's ready to kill himself on New Year's Eve, but as he's deliberating whether to jump, he meets Maureen (Toni Collette), a single mother to a severely disabled young man who feels helpless about her life. But she can't jump, either, because onto the roof strides young, wise-cracking Jess (Imogen Poots) and finally American pizza delivery guy J.J. (Aaron Paul), who says he's got terminal cancer. The four strangers end up spending most of the night together, and since it's then January 1, they make a pact to not to attempt suicide again until Valentine's Day. The story quickly leaks to the tabloids, earns them a nickname (the "Topper's House Four"), and brings them together.
Is It Any Good?
Hornby's books have mostly translated into funny and poignant films like About a Boy and High Fidelity, so perhaps it was inevitable for one of his novels to seriously falter on the big screen. The cast of A Long Way Down is surprisingly stellar, but the characters are still unbelievable and difficult to relate with, except possibly for Paul's wannabe rocker J.J., who's more generally depressed than suffering from a particular tragedy. As Maureen, Collette, like Paul, exudes a quiet, pervasive sadness that's in sharp contrast to Poots' manic, potty-mouthed Jess and Brosnan's narcissistic and shallow Martin.
The screenplay and the direction are so uneven that they make the movie seem more like episodes of a zany TV dramedy patched together than a seamless story about four lonely souls who are desperate for connection and hope. The book, one would hope, fills in the holes that the movie glosses over, but on the screen, even the four points of view and narration don't truly invest the audience in the characters' lives. There are occasional funny moments and a predictable romance, but overall the tone and the execution fall flat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dark comedies and why they're meant to be provocative. Is suicide a funny topic in general? How does the filmmaker make otherwise dark moments humorous?
How is the British press portrayed? Do you think it's believable how the media flocked to the story? Do you think that would happen in real life?
What should you do if you or someone you know starts expressing suicidal thoughts and desires?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 11, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : September 9, 2014
- Cast : Toni Collette , Pierce Brosnan , Aaron Paul
- Director : Pascal Chaumeil
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate