Every Day (2010)

Look at the cover photo, the two women slightly in the background smiling and happy, and Liev looks troubled. Knowing nothing about this movie, what would you think about it? Threesome? Is he trying to choose between the two and can not make his mind up?

This movie is not a comedy, it is not funny, and it is not a fantasy. Liev Schreiner is married to Helen Hunt, and as a husband(Ned) he has waaay too many problems and issues to deal with, sometimes kind of like in real life. When he has to work with his co-worker Carla Gugino to complete his script for a TV show, she tries to put some sense into his life, but even that fails.

What good is living, if there isn't any fun in it? Way at the end of the movie the family finally starts to have some fun by making music, but even that is interrupted by the grandfather dying in the middle of it. I don't know, maybe that was supposed to be funny?

From where I am standing, most people want to have at least some fun in their lives, and if troubles are piling up and the amount of fun is approaching zero, at some point, it would make perfect sense to make a fresh start and rebalance things in life.

This is a good movie with good acting and a good story line. It may be depressing for some people. Don't expect to be entertained by it.

Writer/director Richard Levine's "Every Day" is an unassuming little picture (albeit one with a pretty impressive cast) that deserves to be appreciated by a wider audience. A story of obligation and compromise, this is a candidly realistic look at a family in turmoil. At times deftly direct, at others absurdly comical--this is a movie that might have dematerialized into a conventionally quirky sitcom. But it is, ultimately, grounded by true drama and strong performances. As a result, this is one of the more satisfying sleepers that has completely exceeded my expectations. Liev Schreiber, Helen Hunt, Brian Dennehy, Ezra Miller, and Skyler Fortgang play the family in question with the always undervalued Carla Gugino and scene stealing Eddie Izzard as workplace colleagues of Schreiber. Every time the film appears to be about to veer into contrivance, the smart screenplay reels things back. It is a perfect balance that Schreiber is largely responsible for--as he is the actor primarily straddling plot lines with distinctly different tones.

Schreiber and Hunt have invited her ailing and estranged father (Dennehy) to live with him during his declining health. Hunt, who sometimes falls a bit flat for me, is absolutely spot-on here. Bitter, angry, resentful--this is a letter perfect performance (and the film's best) from start to finish. You may not always like her, but her distant and antagonistic relationship with her father rings quite true as does her decision to try to make him comfortable despite her misgivings. Dennehy tries to maintain dignity as his body betrays him, but does little to ingratiate himself with the clan. Miller, their eldest son, is exploring his burgeoning homosexuality and this is a strain for Schreiber who hasn't quite come to terms with things. And amidst all the domestic drama, Schreiber is struggling at work writing for an insane nighttime soap opera (at least that's my best guess--although the ideas proposed could never make it onto network TV) and engaging in some flirtation with another staff writer (Gugino).

The work scenario is played largely for laughs and is surprisingly well integrated into the more serious aspects of the story. At many points, the film could easily have devolved into an over-sentimental mess--but Levine never attempts to manipulate our emotions! I appreciated his level-headed choices. Miller, an exceptionally appealing young actor, is handed the least successful storyline but pulls it off through sheer likability. It's just good to see Dennehy in anything and this is no exception. And Schreiber is the film's glue. I may not have believed every scene between him and Miller--but it's a small point in an otherwise tight narrative. Outlandish and real--it's a difficult combination, but this dramedy really pulls it off. KGHarris, 3/11.

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A heart-warming story about the everyday struggles of marriage and family, this Indie film focuses on Ned (Live Schreiber), a TV writer in the midst of a mid-life crisis. Ned's problems multiply exponentially when his wife Jeannie (Helen Hunt) moves her ill and bitter father (Brian Dennehy) into their home, his son admits he is gay, and his boss pairs him with a seductive female co-worker (Carla Gugino). In a flurry of family problems Ned must counsel his sons through their formative years, curb his frustration towards the imposition of his wife's father, and resist the exciting temptations of his female co-worker.

Overall, an evocative film that deftly captures the day in and day out grind of being a spouse and parent. It displays the importance of staying loyal to those who love you and care about you despite any obstacles that may interfere--stress, tedium, or temptation. A film that entertains, but leaves the viewer with something to think about. Definitely worth a watch!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program There is a good movie hiding in Everyday Day, unfortunately it is resigned the "B" plot in the movie. Ironically Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) plays a screenwriter on a salacious cable television show who writes the "B" storyline on the show. In this part of the movie Eddie Izzard (Mystery Men) plays his sleazy boss and naturally hits the role out of the park. Then Carla Gugino (Karen Sisco) plays the office flirt. Now there is a movie I would like to see.

Unfortunately at the end of the day Liev goes home to a life that he was already struggling with after his son came out as a gay homosexual and got even harder when his wheel-chair stricken father-in-law come to live with him despite already having a strained relationship with his daughter. Even though Helen Hunt (Twister) as his wife and Brian Dennehy (She Hate Me) as her father give solid performances their scenes are hard to watch especially juxtaposed with Liev's entertaining work life.

The special features included on the DVD include the movie's trailer, cast interviews and about seven deleted scenes.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program And sometimes different is good. I enjoyed this movie. The plot itself isn't different, the main character makes a huge mistake, and ultimately regrets it, but the story itself is. It's a unique and entertaining movie that is worth watching.

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