Director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Eric Roth worked with again Forrest Gump actors Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. The “Here” movie brings the theme of home and family together. As the story starts, it seems slow. As it goes on, it is not always the most interesting, but it is relatable. It shows the moments of happiness, moments of sadness and it ties all the emotions together. It was released on Nov. 1.
Inspired by a six-page comic strip from the late 80s, “Here” shows families throughout decades going through love, loss and laughter during their lives. It is all shot from one angle making it seem like a 3D comic strip. The movie provides glimpses from the past, present and future all at once showing each different family story. It is very effective, and makes it seem like the comic strip came to life.
The story behind “Here” is great and cute. It portrays the emotions that each family goes through very well to the point where audience members could feel the emotions too. It also shows the struggles, and successes each family goes through throughout each decade. The actors played the roles of each of the families neatly, showed the emotions and feelings to make them very believable.
Although there are many different families, the movie centers around Richard’s family and starts with Al (Paul Bettany) and Rose (Kelley Reilly) buying the house in 1945. The two actors played the roles well. Al just got out of the Army and has undiagnosed PTSD. He constantly worries about money, and covering the bills. Bettany played this role well, and portrayed what Al felt to be like he truly went through it too.
As the movie goes on, their first born son Richard (Tom Hanks) brings home his high school sweetheart Marget (Robin Wright). Al is rude when Marget expresses she wants to go to law school and when Richard says he wants a career as a graphic artist. This shows one of many of the struggles Richard and Marget go through life. Hanks and Wright played these roles very well, but it is somewhat strange to see them so young due to the technology, they had to use to do it. It is not always the best editing to see them young while they are older in real life.
“There’s also something inherently creepy about the process, particularly at a time when many of us are apprehensive about screen acting,” The Hollywood Reporter said about the technology they use to make them young.
The advanced technology they used can be unsettling to some as seeing Hanks and Wright so young. Also the editing is not always perfect, and audiences can see it when Hanks is in Richard’s teenage years as his body is not always a perfect match.
“I wish I could say I got emotionally invested in the changes this family goes through,” The Hollywood Reporter said. “But everything feels lifted from the most routine playbook of aging, declining health, birth, death, divorce and most insistently deferred dreams.”
While this the movie was quite predictable, many could say it is the typical family problem cliche. Although the story is predictable it can also be hard to follow. As the movie continues throughout the decades with each different family, it can get confusing because there is no specific order. It is also strange when they go from a time where the house is there to a time when a dinosaur shows up. Also it is a little confusing with the Indigenous people in the woods. It is also not the most clear to why it is relevant to have in the movie.
Overall, “Here” is a phenomenal movie with a cute story background. It is predictable yet confusing to follow as they go through all the different time periods. The actors played each role very well. If people like the family cliche type of movies and they go into the movie with the right mindset and attitude, people would like it.
