Why Stop Now? (2012) User Reviews

I simply enjoyed watching it!

[Boba_Fett1138 · 6/10 · 19 July 2012]

Well, there are so many movies out there you can so easily do without. That however doesn't mean that some of them are still being some good and fun ones to watch, of which this movie is a perfect example!

Most people will probably never see this movie, also mostly because this movie is being a low-key and independent production. But really, that doesn't mean that this movie isn't worth checking out. It's nothing to run out for but I see this as a perfect movie to watch on a rainy afternoon or as a way to kill some time with. It's well made, occasionally funny but above all things it's being a very light movie to watch, making this movie easy to digest and simply pleasant to watch, despite of some of its main dramatic themes.

That's probably the reason why I enjoyed watching this movie; it never gets an heavy or too serious one. It manages to find a pleasant balance between its drama and comedy elements, by mostly inserting comedic ingredients and oddball characters.

The setup of the movie is very simple, when things slowly are spiraling down for a young piano student, played by Jesse Eisenberg. He gets in more and more trouble with his family when simply trying to take his mother to a rehab clinic. It's fun to watch the situations he gets in, as he meets more and more people along his way.

It's really a movie that is mostly being carried by its characters and the actors who are portraying them. It might seem like an odd choice for Oscar nominated and winning actors such as Jesse Eisenberg and Melissa Leo to be in this little film but I can definitely see why they wanted to be in it. It's simply being a true actor's movie, in which they are truly able to shine, without having the pressure of a big budget and high expectations and Hollywood producers constantly breathing down their necks.

I'm only taking off a point on its rating because of its sudden ending. Things didn't really felt wrapped up, at least not to me it didn't. The ending pretty much came out of the blue and I wish they did something more with it.

Not a must-see in any way but it's simply a movie to have some good time with!

6/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

An entertaining but not really a laugh out loud type comedy that I would say is nothing special but worth checking out. I say B

[cosmo_tiger · 6/10 · 3 December 2012]

"You're telling me to go out and get high so that I can get into rehab?" Eli (Eisenberg) has his life worked out. He has an audition to get into an elite music school, he wants his mother (Leo) to get into rehab so she can take care of his sister without him worrying. Once she is out and sober he can leave and not worry. They only problem is that his mom's test came back clean, so they need to get her high in order for her to get into rehab...sounds easy. First off this movie is not bad and it is a comedy, but not really a laugh out loud comedy. The idea itself is pretty funny and the writing is pretty clever. Jesse Eisenberg is turning into an actor who plays the same character over and over, but he is good at playing this type of kid. The movie overall is nothing special but it is entertaining and if you are looking for a mindless movie to put in and enjoy then this is a decent choice. Overall, nothing special but still a pretty good comedy that is entertaining. I give it a B.

A Trip to Rehab Threatens a Piano Recital

[Chris_Pandolfi · 7/10 · 17 August 2012]

Jesse Eisenberg's performance in "Why Stop Now" is a compromise between his roles in "The Social Network" and "30 Minutes or Less." In the former, he played a dramatized version of Mark Zuckerberg, a young man whose focus was so narrow and intense that Asperger's was certainly within the realm of possibility. In the latter, he played a panicked pizza delivery man forced into robbing a bank with a bomb strapped to his chest. His character in "Why Stop Now" is a piano prodigy who, in the course of one day, is faced with sending his mother to rehab, getting roped into being a drug dealer's personal translator, dealing with his little sister's habit of talking through a sock puppet, and mentally preparing himself for an audition that may get him into a prestigious music academy. He also realizes that he's in love with one of his classmates, and so he must work up to courage to admit it to her.

On the surface, this sounds like the recipe for a zany slapstick comedy. There are indeed some very funny moments, many of them physical in nature, and yet never once does the humor overshadow the story's innate humanity. We see a great deal of it in Eisenberg's performance; his character, named Eli Bloom, is clearly under a lot of stress, and there are times when he loses his temper in sheer frustration, but he still manages to work through each situation. He does this even when he believes he isn't capable, and more importantly, when he has convinced himself that he has messed things up beyond repair. This isn't to suggest that he isn't flawed or in danger of falling into the same traps his mother fell into. His first major scene shows him getting drunk at a party he wasn't invited to; we eventually learn that this has been a weekend habit of his for quite some time.

The story proper begins the morning Eli drives his mother, a drug addict named Penny (Melissa Leo), to rehab. Despite being a user, the urine sample she provides is clean; that, coupled with the fact that she doesn't have medical insurance, prevents her from being admitted, a turn of events Eli wasn't prepared for and is clearly not happy with. He's scheduled to give a piano recital in a matter of hours, and if all goes well, it may pave the way for his future in music. The only way Penny can commit herself, according to a discrete nurse, is for her to arrive under the influence. Panicked but determined to get his mother the help she so desperately needs, he agrees to meet with her dealer and get her a stash of cocaine. This is obviously something that happens more in the movies than in real life, but you've got to give writers/directors Phil Dorling and Ron Nyswaner credit for their understanding of irony.

In due time, Eli meets the crippled, tough-talking Sprinkle (Tracy Morgan) and his partner in crime, Black (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), both of whom live with Sprinkle's elderly mother. When Eli inadvertently reveals that he's fluent in Spanish, an initially straightforward transaction becomes complicated; Sprinkle needs a translator in order to conduct business with his supplier, who either doesn't know a word of English or refuses to communicate in it. This is something of a plot hole, given the fact that Sprinkle appears to have thus far conducted business just fine without the aid of a translator. Or perhaps this Spanish-speaking supplier is new. The details are sketchy at best. Whatever the case, a brief confrontation at the supplier's restaurant results in Eli getting his hand injured, seriously jeopardizing his chances of doing well at the recital – assuming he can make it there on time.

As the leads wait for the supplier to deliver the cocaine, other mishaps threaten to derail Eli. He will, for one thing, get loopy on Oxycontin. Not much later, he has to contend with his baby sister, Nicole (Emma Rayne Lyle), who's having behavior problems in school; not only is she too emotionally reliant on a sock puppet, she uses it as an excuse to say mean things to people. Later still, he must work to find some middle ground for Penny and her sister, Trish (Stephanie March) to stand on. Although they have chosen different life paths, the two are surprisingly similar as far as temperament and stubbornness are concerned. Whereas Penny is known for her lying, manipulation, and false promises, Trish is pretentious, judgmental, and self-righteous. And yet, we're made to see the decency in both women, especially in Penny, who may not have her act together but truly does want the best for her children.

There's a subplot involving Eli's love interest, a young woman named Chloe (Sarah Ramos), who's part of a Revolutionary War reenactment society. Although the scenes between Eisenberg and Ramos are competently written and performed, they're by far the most unnecessary and manufactured of the film. I also found myself questioning the ending, the structure of which indicates a lack of consensus on the part of the directors. It starts off rather tidy, perhaps too much so, only to finish on an unsatisfying note of ambiguity. "Why Stop Now" is a flawed film, but its examination of the Eisenberg character is fascinating, and I found myself drawn on some level to most of the other characters, who aren't as clear cut as they appear to be. Even the trash-talking Sprinkle isn't beyond all hope. How would you feel if you had a future in running, only to injure your leg and spend the rest of your life walking with a cane?

-- Chris Pandolfi (www.atatheaternearyou.net)

Why Stop Now!! Because it's not funny, entertaining and, there are better things to waste your time on

[anmolpandey007 · 3/10 · 14 July 2012]

I have to say that after watching this movie I was shocked to see Jesse, whom I would like to believe has a well-endowed acting talent and now a career, would do this kind of script, again. I mean, if anyone, has seen 30 minutes or less, both the movies are similar in more ways than one. A normal guy who is pulled into criminal frenzy, tries to cope up but always finds time to tell the girl that he loves her. I mean in both films, the progress and character development goes just at the same pace, but 30 minutes was way too fun with proper script and punch lines. Because it's funny the first time, but unappealing, rather painful the second time.

The story has a happy ending running on a straight line with high predictability. The acting of Melissa Leo, Jesse and Tracy actually salvaged the film from shrinking to the bottom of IMDb ranking database.

My verdict, if you've seen the trailer, then that's it. It's the whole movie, nothing new is going to happen in 1 hour, 25 minutes.

Full of comedic mishaps but strikes a decent balance of drama and comedy

[napierslogs · 6/10 · 8 July 2012]

"Why Stop Now" asks the question how far would you go to get into rehab? Eli (Jesse Eisenberg) is a smart kid, a piano prodigy, and is desperate to get his mother into rehab. His mother (Melissa Leo) is an annoying, high-strung coke-addict who has to go to rehab now or else Eli will never get to live his own life. The various plot descriptions available all get the rehab misunderstanding wrong, but it doesn't matter, it's ridiculous either way.

Presumably a comedy, the movie goes to great lengths to create a story full of comedic mishaps. Most of them, especially the rehab misunderstanding, aren't funny enough and belong in a worse movie. Because the thing is this movie could be more aptly described as a bittersweet drama-comedy and the travails that Eli has to go through are actually pretty touching.

Jesse Eisenberg is a really good actor. Prior to "The Social Network" (2010), I didn't really believe he was good (probably because of unfair superficial assumptions placed on him), but he may very well have mastered the drama-comedy balance. The script goes to extremes in manufacturing obstacles and misplaced hilarity. Melissa Leo takes on those extremes with her high-pitched self-righteous prattle and we wish she was locked in rehab at the very beginning. Tracy Morgan, surprisingly, plays his role more subdued than he has probably ever been before and the result is a drug dealer that doesn't produce any laughs.

Eisenberg is able to make a couple of scenes very funny. In one, he acts as a Spanish translator for one drug dealer to another and finds an amusing balance between his book smarts and street smarts. In a later scene, he explains the difference between a pain in the ass and a pretentious pain in the ass to two high-strung screaming sisters. I'm thankful when he raises his voice to get them to shut-up.

The mostly classical music score provides an interesting juxtaposition to the drug-fuelled comedy, but I'm not sure who "Why Stop Now" is supposed to appeal to. It doesn't have the same energy and comedy that popular releases "Horrible Bosses" and "21 Jump Street" have. But the bittersweet journey and the accomplishments by one actor in particular makes this a somewhat enjoyable and, thankfully, short ride.

No. Just no.

[thismenu · 1/10 · 21 November 2012]

SPOILER: IT SUCKED.

I wanted to stop watching this movie when the mother was driving and not paying attention to the road for what I guess was supposed to be comedy... but I really wanted to write a review so I kept on watching. Please do not let my sacrifice be in vein and - do NOT see this movie.

The writers must have thought "What would a stupid person do in this situation? OK.. How can we make it worse?"

The main character keeps telling his mother to "Shut up! - Just shut up!" throughout the entire movie. It made me hate him right from the start.

The best actor in the movie was a sock puppet who's story must have been half edited out.

Ever seen Jesse Eisenberg act? Neither have I. When he is in any movie, he plays "Jesse Eisenberg repeats lines from the script." He's exactly the same in every movie. He's like the Kevin Costner of neuritic Jews, only not as good an actor.

If you do decide to see this movie, you may want to keep sharp objects like pencils out of reach because you may want to puncture your ear drums and stab your eyes out.

I would rather get tied down and get Ludovicoed into watching the Fox News Channel for 10 hours than to have to watch this turd again.

nice acting, story a little contrived

[cynthia_keegan · 7/10 · 7 July 2012]

The three lead actors all play to their strengths: Jesse Eisenberg as the gifted prodigy who must overcome his weaknesses, Tracy Morgan as the off-kilter small town drug dealer who succumbed to his, and best, Melissa Leo as a druggie mom trying (and not trying) to keep her self and her family together. The movie kind of has a Weeds meets the Station Agent vibe to it as disparate characters are thrown together and learn to get along. The weakness might be in the writing. Some scenes feel contrived as if to move along the plot, while others are great set pieces. There is a Revolutionary War re-enactors subplot that seems thrown in to give the movie some additional quirkiness (Mr. Black's Miss Muppet line is funny). Tracy Morgan throws in some good ad-libs (when he bumps up against Leo's mom is when the movie starts to hit the mark). Eisenberg can get annoying (or maybe it's just the characters he plays). All in all a good if not great little indie movie.

too annoying to be funny

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 15 August 2013]

Eli Bloom (Jesse Eisenberg) is a piano protégé being dragged into an audition to a fancy music school. Instead, his main concern is trying to push his mother Penny Bloom (Melissa Leo) into drug rehab. She constantly refuses to go while trying to score as they drive around with drug dealer Sprinkles (Tracy Morgan).

Tracy Morgan is completely miscasted. I keep thinking this is a joke but he's never funny. In fact, the whole movie is like that. Jesse and Melissa play very annoying characters. They almost never do things that they're suppose to do. It's so frustrating that any joke never comes off properly. This was suppose to be wacky especially with the revolutionary war re-enactors but I never laughed once. At the core of this, basically how are we supposed to laugh at people who are so self-defeating.

A Wild & Satisfying Ride

[sonyareyna11 · 7/10 · 19 January 2014]

A college student en route to an important piano audition, has to score drugs for his mother so she can be admitted at the drug rehabilitation center with tainted urine. What a premise!!! I didn't know what to expect when I first saw this drama / comedy / action film. But, "Why stop Now" is an entertaining unpredictable fast paced film with a stellar cast from start to finish. Talk about a dysfunctional family including a younger sister who insists on talking through a sock named "Julio." These quirky characters are well written and at times surprising. The story follows Eli bloom in the span of 24 hours and excitement ensues with the countdown for his important piano audition. Eli's ability to speak Spanish, motivates drug dealers to kidnap him to negotiate with their source resulting in several hilarious scenes. Actor Jesse Eisenberg and Melissa Leo, as his troubled but big hearted mom turn in wonderful performances. Tracy Morgan is hilarious as the drug dealer. The cast of characters show multi layers to their personalities, and the audience is taken on a wild but satisfying ride.

Not a good movie

[mek8630 · 1/10 · 10 July 2012]

I thought the movie was horrible. I thought it would be funny, but actually it wasn't funny at all. They were trying hard to be funny, but just wasn't happening. One of the other reviewers thought that maybe the rating would start going up, but if anything I would say it will either stay the same or go down. I couldn't even hardly finish the movie, I was so bored and annoyed. I hadn't liked it thru it's entirety. That Jesse whatever his last name is, isn't funny, and actually I get pretty irritated just listening to him. He acts the same in every movie he is in. The mother in the movie is annoying; actually I could just sum this up by saying all of the actors in the movie are annoying. Honestly I wish I would have picked a different movie, so anyone that's thinking about watching this movie, I'd pass, go on to something else.

An unconventional dramady showing truth in some of life's absurdities

[Thrill_KillZ · 8/10 · 8 July 2012]

After viewing this I was shocked at the current rating of just 3.7/10. I'm sure it will start to climb up from that over time. I was never a fan of Jesse Eisenberg but he did a decent job with this. I admit the script could have been better and a few scenes could have used a re-shoot, but in the end the project deserves a decent review so I'm giving it one.

The story involves a struggling drug addicted mother Penny portrayed by Melissa Leo, her young daughter Nicole and her college age son Eli(Eisenberg). It begins with Eli beginning what proved to be a very ruff day for him, his plan being to drop off mom at rehab and head to a piano audition for a prestigious music school. Simple enough, but when mom finds out the rehab won't accept her because of a clean urine, her & Eli are sent off on a mission for drugs to get her a positive drug screen to get her accepted. Again the simple becomes complicated as her drug supplier Sprinkles played by Tracy Morgan is all out & Eli & his mom are sent out on a mission with Sprinkles & his brother Black to secure his resupply.

I guess it's fair to say this was a feel good movie of sorts. Don't expect to be ROTFLOL, although it does have it's funny moments. Every character involved has their flaws but overall they are decent people. Please don't dismiss this as junk from the rating, yes I doubt the film will be winning any awards & there certainly wasn't any Oscar worthy performances but it does have redeeming qualities. I was glad I watched it(and I'm normally not a fan of Eisenburg or Morgan)so I recommend giving it a shot. It is at least worthy of a 7/10

Enjoyable! 6/10

[leonblackwood · 6/10 · 21 February 2014]

Review: For some unknown reason, I actually enjoyed this movie. The storyline shocked me because it just goes from one crazy situation to the next. The director cleverly mixed it up with humour and drama which makes the movie entertaining and interesting at the same time. Every single character has there own personal issues to deal with. The main character is a piano genius but he has to battle with obstacles that are put in his way before he has a clear mind to go through an audition. With drug dealing, love, troubled sister and stuck up auntie, there is enough material to keep you going through the short hour and twenty minutes. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: It's good to watch a movie were Tracy Morgan isn't being an annoying idiot. He was actually good in this movie, as the drug dealer, and his sidekick was a great choice by the director. Eisenberg usually plays the same type of roles in all his movies, but I thought that he was also good in this movie. You can clearly see that he is actually playing the piano for real which shows that he has a real talent to fall back on. His mother was another character that played her part well as a drug addict. In all, all of the cast put in great performances in this low budget movie that should have got more recognition.

I recommend this movie to people who are into there funny dramas about a mother and son struggling with personal issues. 6/10

Somewhat watchable for a straight to DVD movie

[KineticSeoul · 3/10 · 25 March 2013]

This is one of those bonding comedies with characters that despise each other coming together. But the thing is the bonding is underdeveloped and just not engaging and the comedic moments are few but just isn't all that funny. In fact most of the comedic moments come from constant arguing and it gets old pretty darn quick. The plot is about a guy that is talented with the piano who is played by Jesse Eisenberg who career doesn't seem to be going up after "The Social Network". And in this his character is trying to get his mom to rehab but in order for her to be part of the program she has to have certain amount of drugs in her system and because she doesn't have insurance. So they decide to find a drug dealer to get drugs to get drugs in his mother's system. And the drug dealer is played by Tracy Morgan and they all get put in a situation to stick together in order for each of them to get what they want. Nothing about the story or the performances stands out in this flick. I never found myself laughing or engaged into the story. Most of the elements in this movie has been done before and better. It's watchable to a degree but isn't really worth the time.

3.8/10

Very bad. Please don't watch this

[donmarat · 2/10 · 25 November 2012]

This is just bad! acting, script, directing the movie .. you name it .. it's all bad. There is a scene while the mother is driving the car and talking to her son in the back seat after they leave the restaurant. This scene drew the line! Check the gross income of the movie it's around $2000 . This just tells you how bad it is. There is nothing here that you may be looking for. Not the comedy, not the little "crazy" moments when everything gets messed up and hilarious and definitely not the drama.

I don't know what else to say but you seriously wasting time if you are planning to watch this thing. And I honestly don't know how it got some positive reviews cuz this is beyond disagreeing in opinions this is a movie that you don't expect anyone to rate 8!!! or even 6!!!

I enjoy movie like pineapple express .. comedy based on circumstances and main characters getting themselves in trouble but this is awful.

Just don't watch... or watch and come back telling me "you were right"

Good movie, Melissa Leo horrible and annoying

[jonas-ua · 7/10 · 2 May 2013]

Good movie, Melissa Leo horrible and annoying. Jesse eisenberg and Tracy Morgan are very good. I would say that you should watch it if you can handle horribly annoying people.... It is a good comedy with some romance and some slapstick. Emma Rayne Lyle delivers a great performance for such a young age. Sarah Ramos also delivers a good performance... There are some great moments sprinkeled throughout the film where both eisenberg and Morgan deliver performances and speeches well beyond their years. It is clear that Dorling and Nyswaner are good writers and directors. They only need to work on their casting choices a lot more for such a major role as the mother they should have found a better actress. But overall a good movie, but with a better casting of roles the likes of Leo it could have been great.

Too Pretentious To Be Liked

[gab-67599 · 4/10 · 8 February 2022]

Although this movie was interesting the story line was about serious matter. They tried to mask that with not funny humor and what you get was a train wreck! It got frustrating when some thing would happen and magically he would find a piano and have a sit down. That was stupid, not to mention the ever disappearing hurt hand that is wrapped one second then fine the next.

Charming story about the ups and downs of family love.

[imseeg · 7/10 · 13 March 2022]

The good; charming, true to life, witty (at moments), endearing and uplifting.

Any bad? It's a bit slow, so probably best suited for a patient arthouse movie audience.

The story: Jesse Eisenberg is desperately trying to get his mother into rehab, so he doesnt have to nanny her no more and so he can chase his life long dream and enroll into music college. Will he be able to convince his mother to go to rehab? And will Jesse Eisenberg be able to chase his life long music dream?

A subtle family portrait, with some comic plot turns and lots of likeable characters. Just one of this little indie films that I missed out on in 2012. What a luck that I got a chance to see it now, because it touched me and it put a happy smile on my face, when the end credits rolled...

a drama with levity

[cekadah · 8/10 · 26 December 2012]

i kept overlooking this movie because one of it's stars is tracy morgan. never thought he was funny, never! and as this film is marketed as a 'comedy' surely the morgan character would not be funny to me. turns out not to be the case. he doesn't play a funny role!

first, this story is not a comedy!!! second, it's a drama with moments of levity. third, why it is listed as comedy is a mystery to me.

the struggle of the main character 'eli' to follow his piano playing dream, control his out of control mother, and trying to bring some level of normal life to his sister is the theme of this movie. eli has his own problems, but between his domestic obligations and his academic quest he has little time to address them.

what we get is a mere look at what he must do in 24 hours if he is to remain sane and true to himself and take advantage of a great opportunity to start a career as am accomplished piano player.

this movie may have it's weak moments but i doubt anyone can clearly point them out. i became very wrapped up in the eli character and his suffering with his mother and her 'supplier' friends, dealing with 'family', and becoming attached to a girl who obviously cares for him.

this movie is well worth watching! but please do not expect a barrel of comic laughs. if you approach it expecting that you will be disappointed and end up missing a very well performed story.

Wonderful little indie

[TheRCA88 · 9/10 · 9 July 2012]

This was one of those little gems that come around every now and then. Why Stop Now tells the story of a young man auditioning for a music conservatory, but before that he has to check his mother into rehab. In order for that to happen, though, she needs dirty urine. When the two have a run in with his mother's drug dealer, he kidnaps them for the day so he can obtain drugs from a Spanish speaking supplier (the son speaks fluent Spanish). Everything that ensues afterwords leads the group down a hilarious and sometimes dramatic road.

The writing in this film is very sharp and original. The characters are written beautifully, and The actors really go to different places with them. This film is fresh, original, and carries a heavy heart. Tracy Morgan gives his best performance yet as Sprinkles, an ex high school runner who got injured, so he entered The drug dealing world with his business partner, Black.

This is a must see, everyone check it out. Perfect dramedy.

A surprisingly good time (despite it's lack of promotion)!

[Hellmant · 8/10 · 19 February 2013]

'WHY STOP NOW': Four Stars (Out of Five)

Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo and Tracy Morgan star in this comedy-drama film about family love and addiction. It was written and directed by freshman feature filmmakers Phil Dorling and Ron Nyswaner and is adapted from their 2008 short film 'PREDISPOSED' (which also featured Melissa Leo in the same role). It tells the story of a piano prodigy trying to get his drug dependant mother the help she needs and move on with his life. He ends up at odds with her former drug dealer who he also ends up helping. The film is well written and acted and is a surprisingly good time (despite it's lack of promotion).

Eisenberg plays Eli Bloom, a very talented piano prodigy who works as a supermarket clerk and lives with his drug addicted mother, Penny (Leo), and kid sister Nicole (Emma Rayne Lyle). Eli has been helping his mom out with Nicole and not pursued his own ambitions so when an audition to get into a well respected music conservatory comes up he jumps at the opportunity to take it and move on with his life. First he wants to get his mother the help she needs though and schedules her an appointment at a local rehab for drug abuse. Eli has a weekend drinking problem himself (which is something I can relate to) and gets trashed the night before his audition, embarrassing himself in front of the girl he likes (Sarah Ramos). His mother is rejected from the rehab center as well due to the fact that she pisses clean and has no insurance. A nurse (Jayce Bartok) informs her if she gets high and pisses dirty he can admit her so Eli and Penny go to Penny's drug dealer 'Sprinkles' (Morgan) for drugs and Eli ends up helping him translate with his supplier (Paul Calderon) in order to get the drugs they need.

The film had a limited theatrical run last August before being dumped on video with little to no publicity. Having seen the film now I have a hard time understanding why. I was expecting a poorly executed dumb comedy but instead found it extremely enjoyable. Eisenberg is one of my favorite actors and he doesn't disappoint here. He's relatable, funny and gives the film the right amount of heart that it needs. Melissa Leo is always good as well and makes a likable yet flawed mother once again here. I'm not a fan of Tracy Morgan at all and was expecting him to ruin this film but he's likable as well. In the right role, when he's not overacting, he's actually pretty good and he's funny and likable here for a change. For me the movie was nicely directed and just hit all the right notes. I probably enjoyed it more because I had such low expectations but it is a good film.

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Meaningful, funny and with a good purpose

[Rodrigo_Amaro · 8/10 · 15 January 2013]

Funny little comedy with some meaningful dramatic moments and some self-help ideas incorporated, "Why Stop Now" has Jesse Eisenberg playing Eli, a piano prodigy who's struggling to enter into a great music school (which he can get it by performing at an audition) and many problems to solve at home, one them is to take his mother (Melissa Leo) to a rehabilitation clinic to cure her drug addiction. However, when she's rejected there due to her results came back negative from drug use, Eli will find a way to put her in there even if it takes to meet her messy drug suppliers (Tracy Morgan and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) and join them in a bizarre journey and a very unlikely friendship between everyone involved.

Kind of a funny story yet a very strange proposition the directors and writers are making to us. The whole thing involving Eli trying to put his mom in the hospital in such a hurried and problematic way would work better in a dramatic piece; in here, it almost gets controversial, not comical and it slows the film a little. But it manages to stay positive and be positive, anyway. It's more about being just a barrel of laughters, it has a purpose. It's a story about taking chances, doing some changes in the game and be focused in what you really want. The characters are all driven to those things, into rebuilding the moment in which they are to become better individuals. Sounds corny but it doesn't look all that, and there's plenty of humored moments to fill in the middle of those helpful parts. I think this could be said of this film: it's a group therapy located out of a rehabilitation center and with plenty of craziness in the between "sessions".

Worths giving a try more because of the stars in it than the plot itself (this story made a few years ago would be great; now it's almost too much clichéd). Morgan makes almost his usual routine in terms of comedy except he has some good dramatic scenes; Whitlock was good, given a few good lines here and there, nothing like his priceless character in "Cedar Rapids"; and the best in the show are Leo and Eisenberg, mostly Jesse, who not only is the funniest on scene (thankfully to a lot of cussing moments and his fast delivery speech which always works nicely) but also he seems to be quite a skillful piano player, executing marvelous pieces.

Not amusing as it could and should be, or greatly bright in its serious issues, "Why Stop Now" is a fun picture, very handy these days when all you see is special effects thrown at you and no character development whatsoever. There's life in this. 8/10

THE PIANO OF ELI

[nogodnomasters · 8/10 · 24 July 2018]

Social outcast and bad drinker Eli( Jesse Eisenberg) works as a stock boy but aspires to go to a prestigious arts college. His former teacher Dave (Neal Huff) has managed to arrange an audition for him. On the morning of the audition, Eli attempts to quickly straighten out a home life that has always teetered on disaster. His sister Nicole (Emma Rayne Lyle) talks to people through a foul mouthed sock puppet that needs to be laundered. His waitress mother (Melissa Leo) needs to go to rehab. However things don't go as planned.

Rehab won't accept Eli's mother Penny because her urine is currently clean and she doesn't have insurance. They suggest she do drugs to dirty up her urine. Eli aids and abets his mother on her quest. He runs into the likes of drug dealer "Sprinkles" (Tracy Morgan). At this point the comedy kicks into gear. Eli ends up as a translator between Sprinkles and his Spanish speaking connection.

The film has some comedy scenes, most notable when Tracy Morgan is involved, but for the most part it is a drama that involves people with some type of problem which can be argued that they center around Penny's addiction. It is not a dark comedy per se, the comedy is not about dark material.

Eli's attraction for Chloe (Sarah Ramos) didn't seem to be well developed. Tracy Morgan as a drug dealer and his sidekick Black (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) lacked credibility in those roles as they were comically written while the other characters were more serious. It is a feel good movie, but not one that will make you hold your side with laughter.

Parental Guide: F-bombs, no sex, no nudity.

I loved this film - better than therapy for children of addicts

[Giannalp · 9/10 · 2 January 2013]

If this movie didn't hit home for some people, perhaps they've never grown up with an addict for a parent. While that's fortunate for them - for the rest of us who have - we can find some comfort in this movie, which somehow adds humor to an often painful experience.

As I watched the movie, I was also convinced Melissa Leo must have interviewed my own mother for research. She was incredibly spot on - down to the hippie, disheveled clothing and hair, the premature strain of aging due to substance abuse, and all the associated wackiness. Despite it all, Melissa's character loved her children and wanted the best for them - her biggest challenge was learning how to keep it together. Even the family relationships with her perfect suburbanite sister, Jesse's character, and the pre-teen sister mimicked my own.

I know people viewing my own life and that of my family can sometimes be horrified; I imagine this film produced the same effect for those who grew up with a more cookie-cutter existence. To those, I can understand why the plot and characters didn't thrill - but for me, I can attest this was/is an incredibly realistic view of my own family, right down to the Mother telling her son to watch his own self, because addiction is a "gene." The team who put this together is absolutely brilliant - brilliant because they depicted such a real and tragic situation in a funny, light-hearted way, through the eyes of someone who has been there and can chalk it up to life. I'd take this film any day over some Hollywood blockbuster, glittering up reality.

Jessie Eisenberg is hopelessly hot

[zhongzl-kelley2014 · 8/10 · 3 September 2016]

This movie is so much like my life that I couldn't watch it with a detached manner. Eli Bloom is an outstanding high school prodigy that masters both Spanish and playing piano. He has to take care of his drug addict mother and sister that has anti-social tendencies, and tries to be admitted to a piano school at the same time. He speaks calmly and lovingly to his mother and sister, he seems to be the only one sane in the house. But Penny still tries in every way to ruin his life: refusing to go to the rehab, taking him to drug dealers, trying to check his hand while driving when knowing she can't get the car balanced, trespassing the auditorium while clapping and screaming like a lunatic......Penny is too heavy a burden for any healthy child.

Yet Eli did it. He stopped the drug dealer from killing or raping his mother(although they are not corrupted in the heart anyway), he got the second chance of audition, he sent his mother into rehab, Nicole ends up in a safe environment where she gets to keep Mario and fits into the child society gradually, and Eli wins Chloe's heart with a super romantic monologue. Eli blames no one, he waves off all the obstacles and torture with humor, and he sticks to his goal and dissolve the problems with courage and delicacy beyond his age. Eli has a special position in my ranking of all the film characters.

Sprinkles is a basketball star that was knocked to the bottom of society with a huge setback. Although he has to go back to his drug-dealer profession, I feel pain-stroked when I imagine the gap between his life as a drug dealer and one as a sport star. I have no idea how many nights he cries into sleep that cultivate his cruel and tough character, but I am sure that life owes him so much that the stolen trophy doesn't even start to compensate for it.

There are reasons to

[StevePulaski · 8/10 · 25 May 2013]

Phil Dorling and Ron Nyswaner's Why Stop Now is an energetic comedy that could've been called its tagline, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Rehab," just for added effect. It concerns a piano prodigy who gets caught up with his mother's drug dealers while trying to take her to rehab so he can finally live a life free of this albatross.

The prodigy is Eli Bloom and is played by Jesse Eisenberg, who couldn't be a better fit here. His mother is played by Melissa Leo, and equally great casting choice as well. The film begins with Eli getting drunk at a party the night before a big audition at a music conservatory before he goes up to sleep all of it off. The next morning he tries to admit his mother to rehab for drugs but she can't be accepted due to the lack of drugs in her system. The rehab employee encourages her to go get high and then come back so that her urine sample can come up dirty.

This leads to Eli and his mom seeking out "Sprinkles" (Tracy Morgan) and Black (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), two helpless drug-dealers that will give them the fix they need. But because Eli's mom owes them money, they must fulfill a favor, all while Eli has a stern deadline and a long road trip ahead of him to the audition.

Movies like this, while not usually emphasizing on dialog, tend to make me admire the ways directors and writers conduct eventful plots and briskly-paced scenes of raucousness. Dorling and Nyswaner deliver in this respect because they know that it's not the situations that are usually funny but it's the characters that are victim to them. They know we've likely seen Eisenberg, Leo, and Morgan in other movies, some of them more serious, so to throw them all together in a cacophony of chaos such as drug deals, misunderstanding, and so on makes this a very lighthearted, fun film to watch.

Why Stop Now erects a film on the building blocks of comedy. Think about it; many comedies form as a result of characters doing something they do not want to do. If Eli had it his way, his mother would be in rehab, his little sister would be in a safer haven than she is now, and he'd be on his way his audition. Of course, there would be no excitement and, worse, we could get a depressing, inept road movie rather than the spirited screwball comedy we have here. Movies like this embrace something that will never cease to at least captivate me and that's the cheery sense of excitement and exhilaration in high-octane sequences of madness.

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo, Tracy Morgan, and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Directed by: Paul Dorling and Ron Nyswaner.