You have a likable cast, an engaging enough story with a few moments of both humor and emotional honesty.
Comment
07/27/09
The Answer Man (2009)
31
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:39
Fresh:12
Rotten:27
Average Rating:5/10
Consensus: 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.
Theatrical Release:Jul 24, 2009 Limited
Synopsis: From first-time director John Hindman, comes THE ANSWER MAN, a romantic comedy starring Jeff Daniels (The Squid and the Whale), Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) and Lou Taylor Pucci (Thumbsucker).... [More]
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, Lou Taylor Pucci, Olivia Thirlby
Director: John Hindman
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Reviews for The Answer Man
Though his film is a tad choppy and a lot chatty, Hindman elicits sympathetic performances from leads who demonstrate a deep understanding of movie physics.
04/02/09
Top CriticFirst-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.
07/30/09
An unpretentious, subtle story of one man's redemption.
07/29/09
The laid-back charm of Daniels and Graham's bumpy courtship gives the movie a much-needed edge of idiosyncrasy.
07/21/09
Top CriticAn uplifting spiritual drama about the value of wonder, the trouble with answers, the constrictions of fear, and the liberation of sharing and caring for others.
07/23/09
Answer Man is a pleasant and enjoyable film, easy to go down, and often wrong about details: perfect for network TV.
07/26/09
It's rare that a movie manages to be both graceful and biting at the same time, let alone smart, funny and sweet. But The Answer Man fills the bill.
07/21/09
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.
07/25/09
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.
08/27/09
For those seeking smart, sharp, witty, indie filmmaking here's your answer.
07/15/09
While the film periodically threatens to veer into extreme cutesy indie territory, Daniels and Graham keep it grounded.
07/24/09
Never shows enough passion to be interestingly bad.
07/24/09
Top CriticWhat's the point of giving us unsentimentalized and messed-up characters if you're just going to steer them all towards a tidy, unconvincing denouement?
07/21/09
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.
07/25/09
It almost felt like the characters weren’t really reciting dialogue that came from them but rather just simply memorizing it off the script.
07/27/09
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.
08/07/09
about as memorable as the proverbial stock picture that came with the frame
07/23/09
The debut from writer-director John Hindman features a premise that sounds an awful lot like As Good As It Gets, except the script isn't as sharp.
07/22/09
Top CriticThe implausible Answer Man offers little clarity but plenty of far-fetched scenarios and credibility-defying coincidences.
07/24/09
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