Are You Here

This movie is so good..it makes us think about the meaning of life. Owen Wilson is phenomenal. He makes me think a bit about Woody Allen. But Wilson is a bit like him, anyway. He deambulates about himself, his friend and around life, brilliantly. There are, indeed, some reminiscences of Woddy Allen's more introspective work, where he explored complicated people, relationships and inner psychology, spiced with sarcastic comedy. It's not a comedy neither is a drama. I'd call it, a realistic comedy, because our lives are totally like this. From an exterior or disconnected point of view, they are hilarious. But this movie is more accessible and contemporary. Not presumptuous. Just simple.

Are you here, is a comedy/drama about the coming of age of Zach's character. This movie is directed by Mathew Weiner(Mad Men, Sopranos), so its not your everyday laugh out loud comedy. He does a wonderful job of showing the everchanging maturity of Zach's character. This is a movie centered around drama and family. Owen Wilson delivers a few laughs, but its not the usual Owen Wilson humor. This movie is rich and fun if your going in expecting less comedy and more drama.

In conclusion, if your looking for your typical late night comedy, then this is not what your looking for. But if your looking for A touching drama that delivers a few laughs, then this is a movie well worth your time.

When ben's dad dies, he and best friend, fellow slacker steve take a road trip back to ben's hometown for the funeral. Now come the usual family confrontations, when everyone's emotions are running crazy. Stars galifianakis and wilson. Steve is a weather man, which seems to symbolize things in conversation now and then. Amy poehler is ben's sister, angry at how the inheritance will be distributed. So the family goes to court! This plot, or similar ones, have been done numerous times over the years in films; and usually, when the court case is decided, people have learned lessons they didn't intend to learn. Will that happen here? Can the family members hold together as a family? When i saw wilson listed in the cast, i expected a comedy, but he's quite (unusually) multi-dimensional in this one. A small role for director peter bogdanovich and edward hermann. Written and directed by matthew weiner, who also produced mad men and sopranos. It's predictable, but it's pretty good. It rides a fine line between drama and comedy, even with such a serious subject matter.

I enjoyed the flick, I expected funny but ended up with a more subtle and profound feeling.

Acting is good and it is worth a watch if you are in the mood for some reflection on the way we live our lives.

I found this movie leaving a bad taste in my mouth... It started out as a typical 'Zach stoned out of his mind funny' type of thing, and turned into it trying to teach me something about mental illness, but doing it in the poorest way possible.

Also, just a side note, I think it is the first time I have ever seen Owen Wilson pick up a stoner role. That's just me. I found it weird watching him smoke up on the couch watching cartoons.

It was amusing for the first while, but it ended with a 'what the hell did I just watch' feeling.

They introduced mental illness into the story line, a reason for Zach being nuts, and they solved it basically by getting him to shave his beard off. Now, I understand that that shows a drastic change, but they didn't follow it with anything.. Just watch it, it'll make you mad as well.

Overall, not really worth the two hours unless you have nothing better to watch. Or if you absolutely love Zach (however you spell his last name) or Owen Wilson, and are dedicated to watching everything they put out.