Parents' Guide to

Two Lovers

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Joaquin Phoenix indie is a boring, self-indulgent melodrama.

Movie R 2009 110 minutes
Two Lovers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

dvdgirl
dvdgirl Adult
July 22, 2019
age 13+

I approve

A very good movie about a man in love with two women. Well done.

This title has:

Great messages
1nerd
1nerd Parent of 20, 24 and 24-year-old
February 27, 2009
age 17+

I shook my head throughout

Boring, boring boring. When will movie makers get the idea that the relationships in a movie need to make sense like real life. Otherwise there is no magic. There is no basis for either of the characters (Paltrow - Phoenix) to be attracted to one another. Just like that stupid movie "Knocked Up". Nothing works in this film and there was nothing revealed or discovered nor did I learn anything other than people do stupid things when they are hard up. Also, remind me never to move to Brooklyn. This movie gives it a bad name.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

With its provocative title and Valentine's weekend opening, TWO LOVERS might sound like a perfect film for date night. But the James Gray indie is far from romantic. Joaquin Phoenix plays Leonard, a bi-polar loner still living with his parents in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Despite his suicidal tendencies, he's successfully set up with Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the lovely daughter of his parents' dry-cleaning business partners. She's a nice Jewish girl who just wants to take care of him, but he's, as they say, not that into her. Instead, Leonard's hot for Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), the blond, co-dependent kept woman who lives in his building.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (3):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Although several critics have praised the film's cinematography and Phoenix's vulnerability, there's little redeeming the drama from its infuriating, often ridiculous flaws. Whether it's the fact the actors are all clearly a decade older than their characters (and with the exception of lesser-known Shaw, unable to pull off early-20-somethings) or that neither of Leonard's relationships is at all compelling, this self-indulgent character study is just plain boring -- not to mention frustrating to watch.

Phoenix plays mopey well but Paltrow is unconvincingly flaky and poor Shaw's character is just uninteresting. The film features a stand-out supporting cast (Isabella Rossellini, Moni Moshonov, Elias Koteas and Bob Ari), but the central love triangle is such a bust it crushes every other aspect of the film under its dead weight. By the time Paltrow calls her laughable two-minute quickie (two weeks post-D&C!) with Phoenix "beautiful" and bares her breast to him across a courtyard, you'll wish you'd stayed home and prepared your taxes rather than finish this boring treatise on unrequited love and urban loserdom.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way Leonard's two relationships affect him. How is he different with Sandra than with Michelle?

  • What genre is this movie?

  • Was it expressive or boring?

  • The characters all seem much younger than the actors. Are the actors believable playing people in their early 20s?

Movie Details

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