The Answer Man (2009)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Good concept, poorly executed.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

I was predisposed to like this movie through the sheer casting of the ever-lovely Lauren Graham as the female lead. Unfortunately, that is not enough to carry this movie.Both Ms. Graham and Jeff Daniels do a fine job of portraying their characters, but the story has too many holes to make this movie enjoyable. Mr. Daniels plays a reclusive author who has hidden himself from the world for 20 years since he wrote the mega-popular "God and Me," the transcript of his conversation with God. When Mr. Daniels is forced into the real world, he meets Ms. Graham and there is instant attraction (believable as to his reaction…see above disclaimer, but seems inconsistent with his prior choice of a being a recluse.) Through the story, the two leads draw each other out of their respective shells, fall apart, and then, surprise, wind up with a happy ending. I did not believe the initial attraction; I really did not believe the reason for their breakup; and then the supposed twist at the end seemed to undermine the whole premise of any attraction in the first place.Not that the movie is all bad. As I mentioned there are good performances, some interesting dialog, and the framework of a good premise. It is just that all these elements do not come together enough to make this a movie worth seeing.

Very lovely and sweet movie. I had rented it a while back and caught it on satellite today and glad I did so. Jeff Daniels is uproarious, so afraid he'll be recognized as the author who had "80 percent of the God market" 20 years previously, it never dawns on him there are those who don't have a clue who he is. After agonizing over revealing his phone number to his chiropractor's receptionist for their records out of fear he'll be inundated with phone calls 24/7, he tells her, "I've thought about it and I'm going to give you my number." She thinks he's hitting on her and stops him cold with, "I've got a boyfriend." And don't assume he's a nice guy, either, just because he wrote a book about God. He dumped water on his mailman's family who showed up to serenade him.Humiliated that his book was based on a fraudulent claim, that he talked with God, he doesn't give himself that enough credit for the quiet wisdom he does possess ("You know what's cool about shaking a little kid's hand? They don't know to squeeze your hand so they just end up holding your hand for a little while.") While coming to his own truths, he helps a reformed alcoholic keep his book store (it's the only place the reformed alcoholic doesn't feel afraid) and a single mother who worries every day that she isn't doing a good enough job.My only beef with this movie is with Lauren Graham's character. They try to make her kooky but she ends up not kooky enough, so you don't really know what to make of her. And I think she was made to look horrible in this movie with weird dowdy dumpy clothes and matte flat black hair that was too harsh for her. She certainly didn't look her best. Someone dropped the ball on Miss Graham!

I usually don't write reviews but rather I usually read them to see if the film is something I truly want to watch or not. But given the one, and only, poor review on here so far I thought I'd add some perspective. This film centers around Arlen, who is a irritable man who once authored an existential book but now lives in recluse and away from prying eyes. His character I find fully believable because there are many people who write a book or several books but don't want the fame handed them, they just simply wanted to write a good story or get their thoughts out, the fame was mere collateral damage. This is how Jeff Daniel's character feels. He dislikes people and attention in general. Partially due to not wanting the fame but partially due to having his own personal demons and issues. Along comes a struggling chiropractor who is trying to get her own business going and also a struggling recovering alcoholic who is trying to keep his small bookstore open. Their paths converge in various ways, of which I won't tell to leave some mystery to the reader. The chiropractor (Lauren Graham) eventually becomes Arlen's romantic interest. But it is not a simple or easy relationship and I don't feel that Arlen makes a magical unbelievable change as the prior review states. He is at first softened by her professional expertise and out of appreciation seems to let a door open and try to get to know her. I'd say him liking her son, and kids in general it seems, is part of his character. I would also say his character opens up to the bookstore owner (Pucci) because he is honest and persistent, things Arlen admires. Everyone has their demons and flaws in this movie which I feel add a certain honesty to the film. It didn't feel particularly flawed or predictable. Although there are a couple turn points and their consequences that felt predictable but in all I'd say it wasn't that predictable because of the characters not being formulaic. I thought the pacing was in general nice and enjoyable. If you want a dark comedy that becomes a bit lighter and romantic then this is for you. I'd say its a bit smarter and more enjoyable then most of the made for rudimentary teens romantic teens out there. Take this review at what you will but please read this and the prior for a more balanced view point of the film.

THE ANSWER MAN (2009) *** ½ Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, Lou Taylor Pucci, Kat Dennings, Nora Dunn, Olivia Thirlby, Max Antisell, Tony Hale, Thomas Roy. Daniels gives another remarkable performance this time as a grumpy best-selling spiritual author whose reclusiveness (think JD Salinger/Thomas Pynchon) has superseded his fame (and vice versea) that his adverse contact with humanity becomes a life lesson when he winds up falling in love with single-mother, chiropractor Graham (ditzily sunny) and a new release in life. Written & directed by John Hindman –in a sparkling debut - with just the right amount of misanthropy and mirth, the film works on many levels of questioning one's faith/beliefs/values and the pangs of falling in love. Pucci excels as a recently re-habbed bookstore owner who becomes an unlikely aide and seeker of advice while the delish Dennings & Thirlby are wonderfully baroque as his co-worker and Graham's receptionist, respectfully. "Hell is other people" .. indeed!