I was kinda, sorta willing to give this movie a pass for most of it. True it was kind of boring with characters and a story that has been done plenty of times before. Still it seemed to have its heart in the right place about people doing what they have to eke out an existence. One movie that kept coming to mind is Terms of Endearment, a movie I actually don't like because it traffics in faux realism. This movie at least seemed to be more realistic.
That is until I got to the ending and this movie turned out to be fakier than the fakiest thing out there. I got really annoyed as I felt that I just got played by this movie, that it isn't about realism, it's about some selfish, self absorbed person who thinks it's all about her. It's not even a moral question of her being a bad mom, it's the fact that she doesn't care if she's a mom or not. Introducing Lorelei, yeah, no kidding, she goes from being a maid to a mermaid, well isn't that deep; maybe she sprouts wings too and becomes a water sprite.
There's some question about the ending being unclear. I don't see why. Guy has to go back either way, he's on parole, even if he can make a deal later where he can stay in California, he has to go back to his home state, though why he would come back is beyond me.
That's because we know she ain't going back, that's for sure, she's already made her decision, she's a mermaid for goodness sake. In fact I was a little disappointed that she didn't look a little disappointed that they found her, that would have been more realistic at least.
For starters, if it was such a big deal for her to go to California, then why didn't she do it years earlier? Seems like all she had to do was pile the kids in the car with a full tank of gas, and voila, she would find her dream job.
Speaking of California and the great big ocean, I'm not sure where the bulk of the movie is set, but it's a place filled with trees and mountain vistas and lakes and streams, doesn't exactly seem like they were starving for natural beauty or being a part of nature. Now she's living in LA, surrounded by smog and concrete, with maybe a few trips to the ocean and beach a month, hardly a step up.
And speaking of her job, what does that pay, minimum wage, in a way more expensive place to live? So she gives up a house, run down and a rental to be sure, but guaranteed the best she'll be able to do is rent a run down apartment surrounded by other run down apartments. Though I suppose if the guy does come back, he can have a much more lucrative drug dealer operation.
Also speaking of her job, kidding right? That's what she's potentially giving up her family for? Well how long before actual reality hits this fantasy movie and she nearly drowns a couple of times playing mermaid, or catches some disease in the too cold, not clean enough water or just moans about the fact that after a few weeks swimming in tepid water, her skin will no doubt look like a wrinkled up catcher's mitt?
But of course why ruin a total fantasy, right? Maybe the real open ending is a question of whether or not the kids stay with her in a cheap, too small apartment, exposed to even more potential violence, or go back with the guy and live their lives with him. Can't say as I would blame them if they went with him and if he decided to accept them as his family. Because as already stated, know for a fact she's not going back because she's certainly found her life in LA, and that's what really matters. After all why do a realistic movie about family with all of its ups and downs, all of its sacrifices and heart ache and compromises, when you can just do a movie about one person doing exactly what she deserves and wants. Introducing the Amazing Lorelei.
Congratulations! It's a mermaid.
That is until I got to the ending and this movie turned out to be fakier than the fakiest thing out there. I got really annoyed as I felt that I just got played by this movie, that it isn't about realism, it's about some selfish, self absorbed person who thinks it's all about her. It's not even a moral question of her being a bad mom, it's the fact that she doesn't care if she's a mom or not. Introducing Lorelei, yeah, no kidding, she goes from being a maid to a mermaid, well isn't that deep; maybe she sprouts wings too and becomes a water sprite.
There's some question about the ending being unclear. I don't see why. Guy has to go back either way, he's on parole, even if he can make a deal later where he can stay in California, he has to go back to his home state, though why he would come back is beyond me.
That's because we know she ain't going back, that's for sure, she's already made her decision, she's a mermaid for goodness sake. In fact I was a little disappointed that she didn't look a little disappointed that they found her, that would have been more realistic at least.
For starters, if it was such a big deal for her to go to California, then why didn't she do it years earlier? Seems like all she had to do was pile the kids in the car with a full tank of gas, and voila, she would find her dream job.
Speaking of California and the great big ocean, I'm not sure where the bulk of the movie is set, but it's a place filled with trees and mountain vistas and lakes and streams, doesn't exactly seem like they were starving for natural beauty or being a part of nature. Now she's living in LA, surrounded by smog and concrete, with maybe a few trips to the ocean and beach a month, hardly a step up.
And speaking of her job, what does that pay, minimum wage, in a way more expensive place to live? So she gives up a house, run down and a rental to be sure, but guaranteed the best she'll be able to do is rent a run down apartment surrounded by other run down apartments. Though I suppose if the guy does come back, he can have a much more lucrative drug dealer operation.
Also speaking of her job, kidding right? That's what she's potentially giving up her family for? Well how long before actual reality hits this fantasy movie and she nearly drowns a couple of times playing mermaid, or catches some disease in the too cold, not clean enough water or just moans about the fact that after a few weeks swimming in tepid water, her skin will no doubt look like a wrinkled up catcher's mitt?
But of course why ruin a total fantasy, right? Maybe the real open ending is a question of whether or not the kids stay with her in a cheap, too small apartment, exposed to even more potential violence, or go back with the guy and live their lives with him. Can't say as I would blame them if they went with him and if he decided to accept them as his family. Because as already stated, know for a fact she's not going back because she's certainly found her life in LA, and that's what really matters. After all why do a realistic movie about family with all of its ups and downs, all of its sacrifices and heart ache and compromises, when you can just do a movie about one person doing exactly what she deserves and wants. Introducing the Amazing Lorelei.
Congratulations! It's a mermaid.