Disrepair

Fails to deliver on its premise. It feels disjointed and poorly executed, with writing that is often predictable and dialogue that comes across as forced and unnatural. It's hard to connect with the characters when some performances feel more awkward than authentic.

The pacing is a major issue for me. The show drags in many places, with long, drawn-out scenes that add little to the overall story. This slow progression makes it difficult to stay engaged, and by the time something remotely interesting happens, it feels almost too late to care.

The acting is another weak point. The performances are inconsistent, with some characters feeling one-note and emotionally flat.

Visually, the show doesn't stand out. The cinematography is flat, and the settings lack character. The soundtrack tries hard to make you feel something but does little to elevate things.

Ultimately, Disrepair struggles to find its footing. While there are glimpses of potential, it feels like a missed opportunity. Weak writing, lackluster performances, and poor execution make it hard to recommend.

Sad but humorous at times, the story is a realistic depiction of the fallout following yet another relapse and yet another attempt at repairing oneself!

(Copy/pasting to hit the minimum!)

Sad but humorous at times, the story is a realistic depiction of the fallout following yet another relapse and yet another attempt at repairing oneself!

Sad but humorous at times, the story is a realistic depiction of the fallout following yet another relapse and yet another attempt at repairing oneself!

Sad but humorous at times, the story is a realistic depiction of the fallout following yet another relapse and yet another attempt at repairing oneself!

The film really got to me because I've lived through something similar. Jake's fight to stay sober and fix things with his family felt so real. Like the movie was pulling scenes straight from my life.

I loved how honest it was. Addiction isn't some dramatic movie plot here; it's just hard, ugly, and exhausting, just like in real life. Jake doesn't magically get better overnight. He messes up, he hurts people, and he has to work for every bit of progress. The way his family doesn't just forgive him right away felt true to me. Trust takes time to rebuild.

The acting was good, especially Jake. You could see the guilt and hope in his eyes. Every awkward conversation with his family, every moment where they don't know whether to believe him again. Just like in real life.

If you've ever dealt with addiction (yours or someone else's), this movie will mean something to you. It's not flashy or over-the-top. Just real, painful, and sometimes hopeful. One of the more interesting films I've seen in a long time because it actually understands the problem.

I might question some parts of the movie itself but....... it's the story that spoke to me.

I feel that those who struggled to see the vision may be those in society who expect perfection at every turn, and nothing less. Those who are never satisfied. Which is in a way ironic, because for me, that is part of the polarization of the reality in this short series: that the picture perfect outcome isn't easily attainable. If at all, ever.

We watch the main character's inability to recover fully, with a hope that he finally "gets it" and begins to turn a corner. Frustratingly, he fails - miserably, and his effort is (respectfully) pathetic to a degree. He sees the house burn down around him, and takes comfort in the flame rather than flee for safety, attempt to put it out, save the others in the house...anything! Isn't that exactly what so many go through as they face their version of their addiction or bad habit? Is it not relatable that those around him have their own struggles that are at times magnified or diminished by their main character who often steals the 'spotlight'?

That the story comes to an end, without resolution, and leaves an ambiguous open ending is, to me, very much reminiscent to what real life is: messy, uncertain, and noncommittal. That was the takeway and what made the story of this family's struggle to simply exist peacefully very much relatable.

As far as constructive criticism for the production itself- could there have been some improvement of the visual direction of some scenes? Sure. Could the dialogue also tighten up in some areas? Yes. I found it out of touch for the negative reviews to be as markedly stern as they were. The story wasn't difficult to follow along to, and there was a qualitative value in the frustration felt as a viewer, towards the characters. Which, again, I felt was intentional. Some not-so-perfect people are having to pull up for an even moreso not-so-great person in order to make all of their lives bearable. THAT'S real life. And it's what I came to appreciate after having watched. I wanted to see what became of these brothers. But we don't get that. Which again, is very much how life is: appreciate what you have while you have it, even if it's incomplete.

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and creators.

A friend of mine worked on this and I was curious to see if it lived up to the awkwardness she described.

It did.

I feel the writing is perhaps the film's weakest point. The dialogue feels unnatural and overwritten, often getting lost in clunky exchanges and underdeveloped story arcs. There are plenty of great examples of authentic, believable dialogue ("Manchester by the Sea", "Before Sunset") that show how it can be done well. Disrepair, unfortunately, often chooses for characters explaining rather than expressing which underestimates the viewer's ability to read between the lines.

The performances suffer as a result. While there are a few moments where the cast shows glimmers of promise, most of the acting feels forced and unconvincing. In my opinion, either the direction or the script (or both) left them with little to work with. I believe most actors have the potential to be good, so I hesitate to say it was an acting issue. But it also could have.

The cinematography = inconsistent and awkward. Off-kilter framing and poor lighting make it more distracting than atmospheric, engaging or intentional. It doesn't feel like a stylistic choice either. The color grading is distracting and mismatched from scene to scene.

I respect any creative effort that tries to tackle addiction seriously and I appreciated the idea of focusing on three men dealing with this issue.

It doesn't need to feel polished or overly cinematic, and it shouldn't. But in the end, what I feel is a lack of technical and narrative skills impedes a potentially nice story.

It's a tough watch for all the wrong reasons.