Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mature drama about middle-aged couple; sex, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Lovers
Parent and Kid Reviews
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
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 12, 2022
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