The Lovers
Common Sense says
- R
- 2017
- 97 minutes
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Lovers is a 2017 drama about complex, middle-aged, married adult lives and their romantic and sexual components. The powerful feelings exhibited by a 60-ish couple may surprise teenagers who think romance ends far earlier. Adultery, lying, sexual obsession, loyalty, and boredom are all on display, but the film offers no black-and-white answers to questions that young viewers may raise. Expect to see people in bed together, kissing and touching. A man's hand is seen covering a breast, but no nudity is shown. A man's head is seen between the legs of a woman. A woman screams as she reaches orgasm. Adults drink wine and language includes "f--k," "s--t," and "damn."
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What's the story?
As THE LOVERS begins, Michael (Tracy Letts) and Mary (Debra Winger), married for decades, are both carrying on long-term affairs, promising their lovers to leave the marriage and start new lives. Mary pretends to work late but visits Robert (Aidan Gillan). Michael argues with the hot-headed Lucy (Melora Walters) about telling his wife. He's so beleaguered by the pressure from Lucy that he pretends he's too busy to see her. In the midst of it all, the passion between the formerly distant Michael and Mary reignites, throwing their affairs and plans into confusion. The action culminates when Mary and Michael's son, Joel (Tyler Ross), visits from college with his girlfriend. He has long understood the marriage was empty but grieves as it dissolves.
Is it any good?
This is a well-crafted, adult work about the high drama and sometimes forgotten passion of the middle aged. While lust and romance among the wrinkled may hold little interest for the teens this might be appropriate for, certain human truths are addressed in The Lovers that anyone could appreciate. Mandy Hoffman's lush soundtrack of orchestral waltzes sounds like scores written for 1950s melodramas, suggesting there's plenty of sweep and importance to the small romantic troubles of ordinary people. Teens may identify with the pain a son feels when his parents' marriage dissolves.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how hard the failing marriage of his parents is on a college-age son. Do you think The Lovers suggests that the son is too young to understand the mixed feelings his parents have for each other?
Do you agree that the film's ending suggests that some people only want what they can't have? Can you think of examples of that in life?
Why are there so many movies about marriage and its problems?
Movie details
- In theaters: May 5, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: August 1, 2017
- Cast: Debra Winger, Tracy Letts, Tyler Ross, Aidan Gillen, Melora Walters
- Director: Azazel Jacobs
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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