It was a light little movie, as frothy as a meringue with lots of sugar and egg. I always enjoy Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen in any role, even though she is nearly always typecast as the brassy and independent woman, and he as the laconic cowboy in a uniform or a big hat. I am drawn to character actors. Brian Dennehy and Harry Dean Stanton are two of my all time favorites. I used to like Wilford Brimley before he started doing too many commercials. It's hard to take an actor seriously after he has done the late night supplemental medical insurance commercials. Robert Duvall and Michael Caine are too other actors I love in any movie, and Second Hand Lions , which features both of them, along with a young Haley Joel Osment and Kyra Sedgewick, is on my top five stranded-on-a-desert island movies, assuming the island had a battery-operated dvd player.
To me Did You Hear About the Morgans?, underneath the comic pratfalls and the bear spray in the eye, was about the limits of forgiveness and the nature of redemption. It's a subject that's in the news a lot lately. A host of men have gotten exposed in terrible indiscretions, Bruce Springsteen, Jesse James, Tiger Woods among them, and now they have to begin the difficult process of redeeming themselves and rebuilding their lives. For some of them they will have to do it alone. Some wounds can't be healed, and some heels have to suffer wounds for the way they bruised others.
Sara Jessica's Parker's character asks, why? Why her? Why did you cheat on me? He says I'm sorry a half dozen times and sends gifts, but that's the gnawing center of the victimized person's hurt. Why didn't you choose me? Why did you have to ruin what we had and destroy my trust?
Questions like these don't have easy answers. In the movie they dodge a bullet and outrun a bear and everything is all better, and in the end they wind up with an adopted baby in their arms and one of their own on the way. (I haven't spoiled the ending--it's a comedy. The ending was never in doubt.) But real life is a drama with tragic and pathetic undertones. The happy ending is never quite as easily gained.
Dad--
ReplyDeleteToday I'm so sleepy. We had a doctor's appointment this morning, all's well in baby land. I should have taken a nap when E-man did but I was doing soldier family stuff (and half-heartedly) watching my soapy. I only watch the soapy so I can talk about it later with Grammy and Grandpa. Kourty has a dance competition in Seattle next weekend and this weekend Ethan and I have big plans to watch the UFC 112 on pay-per-view. Recording it for Dad. Have I mentioned I need a nap. Looking for a part-time nanny this summer, so this won't be a problem in the future. You've made me decide to watch more movies. I used to all the time but haven't lately. We try to limit Ethan's tv watching and I find myself going to bed earlier and earlier, when I used to stay up and watch movies with Tom. It's no fun to watch Rom-Com's without my hubbybear complaining about having to watch them. He better call soon or he's gonna get it. I sent him a love box and I want to make sure he got it. I think I ate too many cookies today, my tummy hurts. Well we are off to watch the Backyardigans.
Me
Sounds like you're staying busy. I'm sure Tom will call when he can.
ReplyDeleteDon't eat too many cookies. Try chocolate instead.