Movies.ie

• Critic rating
• Currently 5/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

Clooney plays Hawaii native Matt King, suddenly having to play the attentive father to his two young girls when a waterskiing accident leaves their mother in a terminal coma. Turns out mum needed some attention too, Matt’s discovery of an affair sending the threesome – along with the stoner best friend (Nick Krause) of elder daughter Alexandra (Woodley) – on a search and confront mission. Along the way, they get to know each other a little better…

THE VERDICT: As with Sideways and Election, filmmaker Alexander Payne gets the balance of comedy and tragedy ever so sweetly right in The Descendants. Capturing the agony and the slapstick of everyday life, Payne has the ability to pause for real heartbreak to hit home amidst all the laughter here. And he’s aided and abetted in his latest mid-life crisis drama by a wonderful cast (Golden Globe winner Clooney is up for an Oscar, but Woodley as his teenage daughter deserves a nod too), some beautiful lines (Clooney’s cautious millionaire giving his daughters “enough to do something, but not enough to do nothing”), and, at its heart, a valuable life lesson – however difficult it is to say goodbye to a loving mother, it’s even tougher to say goodbye to a mum who was an asshole. RATING: 5/5

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  masonica

  

  I knew from the director that this wasn't going to be the comedic film it was being marketed as. What you do get is a well acted film with real characters in a situation that is heartbreaking but realistically handled. One of the co-writers plays the Dean in tv's Community and has the unfortunate name of Jim Rash. Think about it. Then go see this movie.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Onionhead

  

  No doubt the awards hype around the film will get people into cinemas but it doesn't warrant the attention considering Payne's previous work and Clooney has put in much better performances.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Beth

  

  George Clooney gives a very good performance. I expected it to be a lot sadder than it was but there's actually a few laughs. Not bad over all.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  tetsujin1979

  

  Clooney delivers a deservedly award winning performance as a soon to be widower lawyer in Hawaii who is told if his wife's infedility after she is left in a coma following a boating accident. What follows the revelation is a series of blows to his character's resolve as he has to reconnect with his estranged eldest daughter and deal with the impending sale of a large area of the island which will impact positively and negatively both his own life and the islands as a whole. What is most telling is the cinematography, portraying Hawaii itself far from the heaven on Earth innummerable calendars, postcards and screensavers would have you believe. Clooney's own character follows this narative, with his classic movie star appearance underplayed in favour of the pressures his situation are playing on his mental and physical state

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  vepyewwo

  

  I really loved this film, funny and surprisingly touching. All the cast were excellent, in particularly Shailene Woodley who plays Clooney's eldest daughter.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  elaineg

  

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  ste_

  

  Some good acting by George but if he wasn't involved this would be a TV movie. Story isn't bad and does keep your attention to the end but it's not great or insightful. Wait for dvd, or sky movies.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Hadouken65

  

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  Chad

  

  Good story, good acting and the right mix of drama and humor. Quite enjoyable.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  dainiux

  

  Payne manages to give the film a lightness that makes it uplifting or at the least fulfilling, rather than depressing.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  The Descendants becomes a kind of exhilarating, island-hopping road movie with Matt as much in search of himself as of his wife's mysterious lover. Along the way he's learning what it means to be a man, to understand himself and others.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  weewoo

  

  Whooo, George clooney lets go off his sex symbol past and gives the performance of a life time. Bring tissues, it a crier!

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  eliza64

  

  Touching film about life death and everything between. Not sure how relistic it is who would choose Shaggy over George cloney? Bring some hankies. Won tickets on entertainment.ie's movie show so thanks to them.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  WildRose86

  

  Kooky family living in a sad story but with a hyper colourful background. Great film with a fantastic performance by gorgeous George! Worth a watch, you may cry!

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  vu1999uk

  

  Well the first thing you notice about this film is that it is not the comedy it is being advertised as. Don't get me wrong there are some laughs, but for the most part it is a heavy drama. So my dissappointment of the lack of laughs may have had some bearing on the fact that I did not really like this film. It just is not very interesting and it struggles to come to life. The performances are all okay, but I am note sure why Clooney is being tipped for an oscar when he has been far better in other films.

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