In Men, Women & Children, there is a lot going on, probably more than I can put down in words. I think the movie tries to be a grand exposé on how social media, and to an extent the internet as a whole, has changed the way we interact with each other, but it really narrows itself into more of how it has changed our sexual natures. As such, while it should probably be a soft but biting narrative, it comes across more as the director hitting us over the head with a hammer to drive his point home.
The movie follows the lives of 8 to 10 individuals, each with their own problems. A husband and wife are in a stale relationship. He wants a closer intimacy, while she wants a more adventurous sex life, and they each find these elsewhere. A young teen has spent so long watching “deviant” pornography online that he can no longer be aroused by anything less. A teenage girl posts suggestive pictures online, with the support (and promotion) of her mother, who tries to live her failed stardom lifestyle through her daughter. And another girl struggles with her mother’s over-control of her internet life. The mother is trying to protect her daughter from online predators, but ends up doing more harm than good. All of these stories (and others) interconnect at times in the small community the players all live in.
The movie is well acted, and while not necessarily full of “stars”, they are all recognizable faces who have been in many films. The standout for me was the portrayal of Tim, played by Ansel Elgort. His mother recently left to move in with a man she met online, leaving her family behind. Ansel is on a roll lately with Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars, and his acting here really steals the film.
This movie was written and directed by Jason Reitman, who has done some terrific films (Juno, Up in the Air), but lately has had a string of busts (Adult World, Labor Day). I wouldn’t call Men, Women & Children a bust, but it doesn’t have the heart and appeal his successes enjoyed.
Jons Movie Takes 