The scent of narcissism wafting off the screen in Jonathan Kasdan's dreary directorial debut is so overpowering, you'd be wise to walk into the theater wearing a gas mask.
In the Land of Women (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:112
Fresh:48
Rotten:64
Average Rating:5.3/10
Consensus: While pleasantly acted, In the Land of Women is a dramatically stilted film with underdeveloped characters.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for sexual content, thematic elements and language
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Romance, Theatrical Release, Romantic Comedy, Los Angeles, California
Theatrical Release:Apr 20, 2007 Wide
Box Office: $11,001,271
Synopsis: IN THE LAND OF WOMEN is a surprisingly somber yet funny coming-of-age tale from director Jonathan Kasdan, and stars Adam Brody in a role not too different from his beloved Seth Cohen on the... IN THE LAND OF WOMEN is a surprisingly somber yet funny coming-of-age tale from director Jonathan Kasdan, and stars Adam Brody in a role not too different from his beloved Seth Cohen on the night-time teen soap THE O.C. Brody, playing a character his own age, breezily inhabits Carter, a loveable but somewhat directionless screenwriter (if you count soft-core porn films) who is dumped by his beautiful but shallow starlet girlfriend Sofia at the start of the film. In crisis mode, he packs up and heads to the Detroit suburb where his senile grandmother (Olympia Dukakis) lives, in an attempt to help her out and get some perspective. While desperately trying to make sense of his grandmother's incoherent ramblings, Carter slaves away at a long-coming screenplay and creates confusing friendships with the mother (Meg Ryan) and daughter (Kristen Stewart) next door. While the film sometimes seems to be grasping for something it can't quite find, it is entertaining throughout, especially for fans of Brody. Thanks to some clever dialogue, quirky characters, and Brody's oddball line delivery, IN THE LAND OF WOMEN manages to get more than a few laughs. That said, the film also deals with serious issues like sickness and death in a lighthearted way. Ryan and Stewart both add depth to what could be one-dimensional characters, and while Brody's performance doesn't feel like much of a stretch, it's nice to see the actor moving towards some slightly more adult material. Kasdan packs the film to the brim with indie pop songs, providing a hip soundtrack for a story that feels contemporary by refusing to fit the traditional romantic-comedy mold. [More]
Starring: Adam Brody, Meg Ryan, Kristen Stewart, Makenzie Vega
Starring: Adam Brody, Meg Ryan, Kristen Stewart, Makenzie Vega, Clark Gregg, Elena Anaya, Olympia Dukakis, Dustin Milligan
Director: Jon Kasdan
Director: Jon Kasdan
Screenwriter: Jon Kasdan
Producer: Steve Golin, David Kanter, Barbara Kelly
Composer: Stephen Trask
Studio: Warner Bros.
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Reviews for In the Land of Women
Most of this is harmless enough, but Kasdan's Hollywood logic is simply too implausible.
His ostensible profession is writing soft-core porn, but he really wants to be a serious novelist. If so, the life experiences he gains in this soppy, schematic weepie won't help much.
This is not an awful movie, but it fails to capitalize on some real opportunities that could have made it better and deeper.
An admirable first effort and likely to be enjoyed by women who wouldn't mind meeting that good-looking, self-effacing young man, and men who may be under the illusion that they in some way resemble him.
The kind of movie where everyone has problems, people reveal their deepest longings and fears to a person they just met, and every scene seems to start with the phrase, 'I have to tell you something.'
It can't decide on a tone, so it jars the viewer from one moment to another.
The whole mess feels like a television pilot that was never picked up.
Kasdan has talent and intelligence, but he hasn't quite figured out how to tackle this story.
These are purely movie creatures -- entities that may, in fact, arise from pods and exist only in relation to other movies and movie creatures.
This first film by writer/director Jonathan Kasdan reveals him to have a good ear for dialogue and the foibles of growing into adulthood. With the inclusion of greater originality in his plotlines, he should grow into a director to watch.
Kasdan has made a winning if overly pat first feature notable for its keen ear, its preference for character over plot and its refreshing modesty.
What matters here aren't the narrative events, so much as the movie's emotional textures.
First-time writer/director Jon Kasdan’s witty dialogue mixed with Brody’s pitch-perfect portrayal of the lovable loser make this film different and worth seeing.
It's a wistfully humorous romantic weeper with emphasis on the humorous.
In the Land of Women doesn't for a moment feel messy and chaotic where it counts.
This comedy drama is capably acted and undeniably touching in spots, although less than two weeks after seeing it, I can remember having been undeniably touched but not much else.
It feels like Kasdan has piled one event on top of another on top of another, as opposed to building a believable story arc.
Kasdan's script mines familiar ground without finding gems. That's too bad, because it's blessed with honest, unflinching performances from three leads.
Manages to appreciate the boldness and the beauty of women without getting too girly about it.
Latest News for In the Land of Women
April 28, 2007:
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April 22, 2007:
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April 19, 2007:
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