Lymelife Reviews

It's not terrible, but many of the metaphors employed by writers Derick and Steven Martini are crashingly obvious.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

Derick Martini's quirky, frustrating directorial debut seems to believe that a dystopian view of suburbia will suffice for a film, without the need of an engine to drive the story (or really any story at all).

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

Given its concern with suburban rites of passage, Lymelife is the quintessential indie film, but it offsets its overfamiliar derivativeness with filmmaking craft and excellent performances.

Full Review

Lymelife is tenderly observed and generally well-played with Timothy Hutton bringing a weary stoicism to one of his best roles in a long while.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Debut director Derek Martini displays confidence, coaxing performances from his cast that keep the potentially overheated story in check.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Derivative it may be, but this is a well-directed, well-rounded drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Chiselled from the same block of unhappiness as The Ice Storm, Thumbsucker and just about every other movie made by a depressed baby-boomer, it's yet more well-acted retro anguish.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

Lymelife is bursting with understated comic lines, a convincing cast and tight production.

| Original Score: 3/5

It's a particularly good performance from Rory, the youngest of the seven Culkin children.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

A sharply-observed character study with some masterful central performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

Dysfunctional adults and disaffected kids tear chunks out of each other in a hazy '70s purgatory of drab copper hues and horrible brown clothes. Brave, intelligent and bitingly witty.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

It's an intriguing watch with just enough black humour to keep its quiet desperation at bay.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

An ultimately satisfying look at the American dream through the eyes of a typical 15-year-old boy who's struggling to make sense of his family and surroundings.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

The film has a funny-quirky tone that's continually subverted by darkness.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Lymelife is funny and well-acted, but it's just shy of being compelling enough to be remembered.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

...there is only so much they can do covering such familiar territory.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10

Lymelife doesn't bring much new insight to bear on the topic of the horrors of suburban existence.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

The performances are strong. ... But to anyone who saw "The Ice Storm" or "American Beauty" or a dozen other tales of suburban angst, there's nothing here you haven't seen before.

| Original Score: 2.5/4

While the performers do what they can with the material, we've seen this premise done too many times, especially recently.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

The Martinis are not filmmakers, and I wish they had paid more attention in their Production 101 classes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5