Infinitely Polar Bear (2016)

People are voting emotionally.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

(Flash Review)Ruffalo plays a bi-polar man who has two young kids with a mother and they battle trying to live as a single family unit. Living at around the poverty line, the mother decides to go to business school to support the family. Deciding to leave Ruffalo in charge of the kids during the week for several months. The director portrays the bi- polar man more as an eccentric and never really enlightens the viewer in depth on what it means to have such a condition. The scenes are overly similar when showing his eccentric interactions with his family and never really build to anything; felt very flat. I was like, OK, there he goes again doing something ridiculous. I guess the plot tension asked the question if he will be able to manage the kids and for how long and will he be able to manage his condition? I also didn't feel any of the characters connected with me as having genuine emotions for each other. This was not enjoyable.

I grew up with a manic-depressive father and this movie was spot-on. He wanted to hang around with my friends, he'd play games with me until I was worn out, he embarrassed me with his constant barrage of words-words-words. I knew he loved me and would do anything for me, but I also knew he couldn't be counted on to remember to pick me up at the movies.Certainly not all manic-depressives are the same, but there are some well-known patterns of thought and behavior, and this is a fine example of one of them.

If you love Mark Ruffalo--as I do--this is a must watch film. Everything is excellent: the story, script, casting, locations, costumes.... It is a rare find. I am a parent; I have friends and acquaintances with bipolar disorder. This film tackles those topics effectively and rings true on both fronts. The film is set in the late 1970s and touches on a variety of delicate subject matters for that era: class, wealth and poverty; mental disorders; biracial relationships; education and career opportunities for girls and women. And subjects matters that are still contentious today: disparity in public school districts; career opportunities for working mothers; effective parenting. Overall, this film is fascinating and I highly recommend it.

I agree with one of the reviewers, this film rates 10 stars...hands down. It IS also, one of Mark Ruffalo's better performances as well .. when is this guy going to get a very well-deserving Oscar?Mark Ruffalo plays a manic depressive husband asked to care for two daughters so that his wife (Zoe Saldana) can get her master's degree in business to support a better life for them.The film has heart, passion, spirit, warmth, and realism .... all bundled & balanced expertly into a fantastic drama/comedy with just the right balance of the rigors of mental illness on the individual and those that they love and are loved by them. It expertly tangos around sensitive issues not only of mental illness, but interracial marriages, parenthood, and a hatful of stereotypes all levels of society face.This hidden treasure will wrap you up in its own special "bear hug". :