Positive
Positive—This is a pleasant, feel-good comedy/drama, with emphasis on the former. The theme of forgiveness will be appreciated by Christian audiences, as will the lack of violence and pornography. Profanity is brief: One f-word, one SOB and a couple other epithets.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 3½
—Brian Schacht, age 68 (Canada)
Positive—I was somewhat skeptical about seeing this movie, but glad that I did. I felt that if the roles of Rene Russo and Linda Lavin had been omitted, I could have given it a much better rating. Overall, I felt that the influence that “Ben” had over the young adults in this movie was so impacting. The transformation of several of them was indeed the kind of mentoring that is so needed in the work force today. And, unlike your reviewer, I felt that the ending was appropriate and that “Jules” was indeed learning how to better fulfill her role as CEO and also as wife and mother.
This was one of those rare movies that caused my husband and I to talk about scenes that we felt were so good, days after viewing.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
—Connie, age 70 (USA)
Positive—I was pleased with the quality of this movie. Since I am retired, shy of two years, I was able to relate to what newly retired Ben, played very well by Robert De Niro, thinks and wishes and does. I saw nothing negative or offensive about the character of Jules, played with precise sensitivity by Anne Hathaway, in a role that may be my favorite of her performances. The script is intelligently written, and the tone is upbeat. There are some immoral thematic elements that reflect today’s society, but I saw nothing that I would consider offensive to a mature Christian viewer.
Ben plays a loving and seasoned businessman who is able to balance out Jules” youthful and brilliant entrepreneurship. Their friendship grows and deepens. I enjoyed the sweet tone between these two characters, and the forgiveness that Jules is able to extend at the end of the story. This is a conventional Hollywood feature film with its requisite cliché-ish characterizations, but, nevertheless, I found it to be a pleasant and cheerful movie to watch.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
—Halyna Barannik, age 69 (USA)
Positive—As secular movies go, this one I rate high. One expects Hollywood to “slam” roles between husbands/wives, mothers/fathers, bosses/workers. Of course, they have their own agenda. One cannot go into a movie blind believing that a non-Christian film would have great Christian morals/values sprinkled throughout the story line. I, for one, as a recently retired educator in the public school setting (my personal mission field), enjoyed this film, along with my dear wife, who is intelligent and serves in a Christian school. We both liked the story line and saw the “wisdom” in the role of the retired widower (father/grandfather-figure, hard working, professionally dressed) who doesn’t shove his ideas down the throats of these younger employer/employees until the right moment. And then it’s done gently to everyone he meets throughout the film.
As believers, we are in the world but not of it. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. It’s good to be heavenly minded (we don’t think enough about “Home”), but, until then, we are living in the world to be salt and light. If we (believers) get offended easily don’t bother seeing secular films. For me, being discerning, will see a film that looks good and use it as a witnessing opportunity when the opportunity avails itself. …
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
—Kevin Carr (“retired” educator), age 63 (USA)
Positive—I really enjoyed the performances of Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro in this film. I liked how it portrayed the friendship developing between these two unlikely people. ***SPOILER*** I think Ben’s advice about Jules” marriage at the end of the film was not necessarily the best, though. Jules did need to spend more time with her family, as her husband was feeling neglected and her daughter did not seem to get enough mommy/daughter time, either.
When Jules considered bringing in a CEO, I really thought that would be a good solution to the problem and enable her to spend much needed time with her family. However, both Ben and her husband convinced her not to hire the CEO and to continue running her business herself as before. Even though her husband had been involved in an affair due to being neglected, he still persuaded his wife not to give up her dreams and happiness by hiring a CEO and relinquishing some control of her company. Ben also told her that she should not make a decision to hire a CEO simply in hopes that her husband would put an end to the affair.
In the end, Jules and her husband did decide to work on their marriage and not get a divorce because of the affair, which I thought was refreshing to see. That kind of resolution to stay in