'THE GUILT TRIP': Three Stars (Out of Five)
A mother and son bonding road trip film starring Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand! As odd as that sounds it does kind of work. Not entirely successful but it's funny at times and touching (if you love your mom or son). The film was written by Dan Fogelman (who also wrote the outstanding 'CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.') and directed by Anne Fletcher (who also directed such popular romantic comedies as 'THE PROPOSAL', '27 DRESSES' and 'STEP UP'). It's the 70-year-old Streisand's first starring role since 1996's 'THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES' (she did do supporting turns in 2004's 'MEET THE FOCKERS' and 2010's 'LITTLE FOCKERS' though).
Seth Rogen plays Andrew Brewster, an inventor that has spent the last several years of his life (and all of his money) developing a completely safe cleaning product made from healthy foods. He's about to go on a road trip promoting his product to potential buyers when he learns his mother, Joyce (Streisand), had a long lost love before his father. Feeling compassion for his mom he looks the man up on the internet and finds out where he lives. Andrew then invites Joyce on his road trip to go see the man again (without telling her that's the real reason he wants her to come along). Joyce loves her son and misses him so much that she jumps at the chance to go on a trip with him. The adventure of course becomes a nightmare for Andrew as his product doesn't sell and his mom annoys the hell out of him.
The studio putting out the film was so sure Streisand would get a Golden Globe nomination that they started running a commercial saying she had received one (for actress in a comedy) and then had to pull the add when she didn't get one. Then she just recently received a Razzie nomination for worst actress for the film. She definitely wasn't great in the movie and doesn't deserve any award nominations but she wasn't bad either. The chemistry between her and Rogen actually works (as a mother and son duo) and although nothing in the film is hilarious there are several funny moments (a lot of them improvised I'm sure). The two characters' relationship is also touching at times (if even in a somewhat cheesy way). So you could say 'THE GUILT TRIP' is a good 'guilty pleasure'. It works kind of.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEtQLe6PT3o
A mother and son bonding road trip film starring Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand! As odd as that sounds it does kind of work. Not entirely successful but it's funny at times and touching (if you love your mom or son). The film was written by Dan Fogelman (who also wrote the outstanding 'CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.') and directed by Anne Fletcher (who also directed such popular romantic comedies as 'THE PROPOSAL', '27 DRESSES' and 'STEP UP'). It's the 70-year-old Streisand's first starring role since 1996's 'THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES' (she did do supporting turns in 2004's 'MEET THE FOCKERS' and 2010's 'LITTLE FOCKERS' though).
Seth Rogen plays Andrew Brewster, an inventor that has spent the last several years of his life (and all of his money) developing a completely safe cleaning product made from healthy foods. He's about to go on a road trip promoting his product to potential buyers when he learns his mother, Joyce (Streisand), had a long lost love before his father. Feeling compassion for his mom he looks the man up on the internet and finds out where he lives. Andrew then invites Joyce on his road trip to go see the man again (without telling her that's the real reason he wants her to come along). Joyce loves her son and misses him so much that she jumps at the chance to go on a trip with him. The adventure of course becomes a nightmare for Andrew as his product doesn't sell and his mom annoys the hell out of him.
The studio putting out the film was so sure Streisand would get a Golden Globe nomination that they started running a commercial saying she had received one (for actress in a comedy) and then had to pull the add when she didn't get one. Then she just recently received a Razzie nomination for worst actress for the film. She definitely wasn't great in the movie and doesn't deserve any award nominations but she wasn't bad either. The chemistry between her and Rogen actually works (as a mother and son duo) and although nothing in the film is hilarious there are several funny moments (a lot of them improvised I'm sure). The two characters' relationship is also touching at times (if even in a somewhat cheesy way). So you could say 'THE GUILT TRIP' is a good 'guilty pleasure'. It works kind of.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEtQLe6PT3o