The Answer Man takes an interesting premise and overloads it with implausible scenarios, indie comedy cliches, and an all-too-familiar story arc that only occasionally benefits from its typically capable actors.
The Answer Man takes an interesting premise and overloads it with implausible scenarios, indie comedy cliches, and an all-too-familiar story arc that only occasionally benefits from its typically capable actors.
audience
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Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 22,251
The reclusive author whose groundbreaking book redefined spirituality for an entire generation realizes how little he actually knows upon being approached by a single mother and a recovering addict in this drama from first time writer/director John Hindman. It's been 20 years since Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels) penned "Me and God," and the inspirational, soul-searching book is still as popular as ever. Anyone who reads it thinks that Arlen has all the answers to life's problems, but these days the
author barely ventures outside of the house. Then, one day, Arlen crosses paths with Elizabeth (Lauren Graham), a single mother struggling to raise her seven-year-old son, and Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci), a young man who has just gotten out of rehab. Both are searching for the answers that will help them to become better people while overcoming their fears of failure. Does Arlen possess the wisdom to help Elizabeth and Kris work through their current problems, or is he really as clueless as he's been feeling for the last two decades? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
How much more interesting is a film like (500) Days of Summer, which is about the complexities of life, in comparison with this one, which cheerfully cycles through the cliches.
Daniels' Faber can be a curmudgeon one moment and a charmer the next, and it's hard to accept the notion that Graham's level-headed gal wouldn't instantly see through his act and show him the door.
While The Answer Man has a meandering pace and ultimately goes precisely where you think it will, first-timer Hindman makes the journey pleasant among these literate and interesting folk.
These are FATAL flaws in the screenplay -- not rooting for the romance to work and not rooting for the lead to find redemption. I wanted God to strike Arlen Faber down in the street.
First-time director/screenwriter John Hindman seems aware of how predictable his premise could be, and despite a plot hole or two, he's put together a smart script with likable characters and lively dialogue that subverts the obvious clichés.
Has a terrific cast and charming performances, but it's often lazy, contrived, lacking insight and, ultimately, underwhelming in terms of drama, romance and comedy.
As part of the current season's spate of philosophical lifestyle pap movies like "Away We Go" and "$9.99," first-time-director (oh how I rue those words) John Hindman trips at every step.
The Answer Man is like a great big breath of fresh air on the first nice day of spring. It is a story with characters who feel real, as they try to find real answers to real problems.
Nice little movie. I enjoyed it. Nothing amazing happens in it, but it is very watchable and has a great cast including Lauren Graham and Lou Taylor Pucci. The lives of a few people cross including a chiropractor (Lauren Graham), a grumpy writer (Jeff Daniels) and a guy recently out of rehab (Lou Taylor Pucci). All
are dealing with issues in their day to day lives. Funny and moving.
I'm usually very scepticle of my mothers taste in movies, but she insisted I watch this movie. The plot is interesting, but it stole many elements from "As Good as it Gets". The story revolves around a writer who became famous for writing a book about how he could talk to God and the answers he got, a chiropractor who
loves her son more then anything in the world, and the alchoholic owner of a book store who is struggling through hard times and just needs answers. If you're at the movie store with your girlfriend, and you see it there, and they have no copies of "{500} Days of Summer" left, get this movie. I almost cried at the end. Thats saying a lot because I have only cried watching 5 movies in my life. The very best part of this film though, is the answers. The book store owner makes a deal with the writer to take books for answers to questions. The answers that this writer comes up with are the best answers to questions I've ever heard. This film may be recycled material, but the thinking is fresh. If you need to watch a movie that makes you think, rent this movie.
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