In STEEL MAGNOLIAS, which, like this film, stars Sally Field, one of the characters says, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." Like that tearjerker, TWO WEEKS is a bittersweet film that manages to make the audience alternately laugh and cry. Field stars as Anita Bergman, a mother... [More]

In STEEL MAGNOLIAS, which, like this film, stars Sally Field, one of the characters says, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." Like that tearjerker, TWO WEEKS is a bittersweet film that manages to make the audience alternately laugh and cry. Field stars as Anita Bergman, a mother whose impending death from cancer draws her family together. Julianne Nicholson (FLANNEL PAJAMAS) plays her only daughter, Emily, who meets her oldest brother Keith (Ben Chaplin, THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS) at the airport with a self-help book in hand. The responsible brother, Barry (Tom Cavanagh, ED), and the baby of the family, Matt (Glenn Howerton, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA), soon arrive at their mother's bedside as well. With its wonderful cast, smart dialogue, and a genuine approach to grief, TWO WEEKS is a quiet film that deserves more attention than it's likely to get. It's a film that should be seen. It's a shame that Chaplin hasn't had a number of visible roles since THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS; here he holds his own with both Cavanagh and Oscar-winner Fields. After four seasons of ED and multiple guest appearances on SCRUBS, Cavanagh has proven his comedic mettle, and it's rarely been so clear as in this film. An hour and a half spent watching a woman die a painful death hardly seems like a fun time, but sympathetic characters and a large dose of humor make it more than bearable for the audience. [Less]