Hey-film geek girl here(actually,woman)!! I watch a lot of rom-coms and it is hard to find ones that are really great throughout like this one. I have thought that Justin Bartha(and his gorgeously almost neon blue eyes)was adorable and funny ever since the 1st "National Treasure" movie and Catherine Zeta usually makes great film choices,this is definetely no exception.Also when I stumbled upon this in the new to video part of amazon instant,I didn't notice at first that the director was Bart Fr...Sorry,can't remember at the moment how to spell his last name. I do know that he is married to the beautiful and talented Julianne Moore and that they know about a successful relationship involving a slightly older woman.Sure can relate to liking and lusting after younger men. The chemistry between Sandy,the 40yr old mother of 2 kids that is on the rebound from a cheating,kind of awful husband and Arol(not really sure what his name was),the 25 yr old college grad,that works at a cafe and starts working for Sandy, is pretty warm and fantastic. They seem to appreciate each other and care about each other and the kids. The film doesn't rush into the walk down the aisle and quick love but reveals the strengths and passions of both of the main characters. All the travel scenery was nice too,of one of the character's,towards the end."The Rebound" is a wonderful example of how what makes a family beautiful and unique can vary so much. I gotta say,it makes me a little lonely and very much uplifted at the same time. It also stars other great people like Art Garfunkel as Aros' father and Lynn Whitfield as Sandy's eventual respectful,strong boss. I highly recommend this film for any hopeless romantics out there,that don't mind a little real life raunchiness and some bad words interspersed throughout.
College-educated Aram has had multiple chances for employment as a highly paid office "suit" in the City, but he's opted instead to live with his parents and work at a menial job while he searches for something more meaningful to do with his life. After Sandy runs into Aram at a full-contact, self-defense class at a local woman's center, where Aram has hilariously volunteered to be the human punching bag for outraged women who've been ill-used by men, Sandy asks him to babysit her children. This one-time favor leads to his becoming her full-time nanny, and ultimately to the two of them embarking on a May-December romance.
Academy Award-winner Zeta-Jones is a brilliant dramatic actress who is equally talented at comedy. As a big fan of romantic comedy in particular, I enjoyed her very much in America's Sweethearts and Intolerable Cruelty (though the movies themselves were not among my favorites), and I was delighted to learn she had made this film. She does a very believable job playing the downtrodden Sandy. If we had entered Sandy's life before the inciting incident of her husband's cheating, we would very likely have found her a very boring person living a passive existence. However, Sandy is anything but passive during the course of this movie. Zeta-Jones convincingly portrays Sandy's extremely interesting journey from a woman made timid by low self-esteem to one who is confident in herself both personally and professionally.
Zeta-Jones also has excellent chemistry with her romantic lead, Aram (Bartha). Aram and Sandy are both struggling with similar life issues, including a painful divorce from a betraying spouse, being taken advantage of and pushed around due to a sweet, yielding disposition, and struggling to find themselves as they face a major crossroads in their lives. Aram is the kind of guy every divorced woman with kids dreams about, intelligent, thoughtful, fun to be with, great with kids, an excellent cook, and a sensitive lover.
He sounds like a saint, doesn't he? And saints are supposed to be dull characters, or so we are told. But truly he is not. Sandy is equally nice, and the audience is rooting for her to choose kind, decent Aram, whom she deserves and wants, rather than the jerky, age-appropriate men her friends urge her to date instead of Aram in order to avoid a sexist social stigma that men don't have to worry about.
I had never seen Bartha's work before viewing this movie, having missed the films he is most known for. I was very impressed with his acting, and I will certainly be on the lookout for him in the future.
Unlike several recent romantic comedies I've watched with a huge amount of--to me gratuitous--nudity (No Strings Attached, Friends With Benefits, Love & Other Drugs), there is no nudity in this movie! Yes, there is some swearing, but I'll take that any day over endless rounds of naked bed romping.
As any romantic comedy worthy of the name should, this movie has many humorous moments, but importantly, it is quite poignant as well. It is a cliche to say, "I laughed, I cried," when reviewing a movie, but the truth is, I did, and I think that's a very good thing. I believe that this is what any romantic comedy of merit attempts to achieve for its audience.
All in all, this film is a keeper in a special place of favor on my romantic-comedy shelf!I found "The Rebound" a delightful Adult Romantic Comedy, written and directed by Bart Freundlich, and not your usual fare. After all, this one stars Catherine Zeta-Jones (Sandy) and Justin Bartha (Aram) as the two leads. You really can't go wrong with these two presenting a younger man and an older woman theme. Sandy's two children, Sadie (Kelly Gould) and Frank (Andrew Cherry) are just adorable and precocious as ever. The R rating is for the themes explored and for some 'bawdy' language making this a romance, with a generous lending of comedy...for grown ups.
This story basically starts with forty-year old married Sandy, on her laptop looking through video clips of Sadie. As she's perusing through her young daughter's accomplishments, she spies in the background her husband being 'unfaithful'. This issue is not explored in detail. We quickly focus on Sandy and the children moving into an apartment in New York City, above a coffee shop. This is where the very sweet Aram works and they first meet, as the children quickly take notice of him and immediately like him.
Shortly after meeting Aram, he offers babysitting services. Sandy gains work for a major sport's network as she's an avid sports fan and educated in this area. Her boss (Laura Reilly) is strongly acted by Lynn Whitfield who becomes a role model. The 'babysitter', whom the children adore and so does Sandy, is smartly employed as the kid's "nanny". The two find a comfortable friendship with each other by this time and Sandy is getting more stable and happy with her life.
Aram has a Sociology degree, although is content working in the coffee shop as he has been hit hard by a relationship also. He married a French woman who used him cruelly to gain a 'Green Card' for citizenship, then left him. He won't divorce her or she would not be able to stay in America. He lives with his parents, the Finkelstein's (Art Garfunkel acting the part of the father in an uniquely comedic role). Aram possessing a generous, warm and thoughtful nature that you cannot help but love.
One of Sandy's friends begins urging her to go on a blind date with a Chiropractor (John Schneider) as Sandy really doesn't want any part of it. Although she finally relents and leaves the kiddos with Aram to go out with him. As far as blind dates go, this one takes the cake as Schneider is a complete fool and Sandy's responses to him are equally funny. When she returns to the apartment after the date from hell, Aram is there for her after she downs a partial glass of vodka. The two begin talking and as one thing can lead to another the friendship shifts into an 'intimate' realm.
As usual with these types of movies, there is a plot twist, and this one was a big unexpected one for me. So to go on with a descriptive way of reviewing this would really be a spoiler for anyone interested in seeing this film. You will see some beautiful scenery and further explore the soundtrack that starts with a bang from the beginning, by Jim Black. From Sandy yelling out the song "B****" by Meredith Brooks in her car driving, to Aram singing "Everytime You Go Away" to Sadie so she'll fall asleep.
It is always enjoyable to see Catherine Zeta-Jones in this type of role; strong and vulnerable at the same time. She is one actress that can do this plausibly and add some sharp, dry wit. Justin Bartha has always had the innocent, sweet quality to pull the role of Aram off and bring him to life. The two share an easy rapport and screen chemistry. A great movie just in time for Valentine's Day.
Read Best Reviews of The Rebound (2012) Here
Just loved it. Not your typical cheesy totally made-up romance story, but a honest and realistic one. The movie will make you feel that love do exist and it has nothing to do with age. Love is just love even though sometimes it might take a while for people to realize it, but at the end, true love will shine. The movie put a smile on my face, and I am sure it will do the same for you. So enjoy.Want The Rebound (2012) Discount?
This is Michael's wife. I loved this Movie!! I loved Justin Bartha as a romantic lead and hope he does many more romantic comedys. I have to admit the first time I watched it I had to fast forward through some scenes. The "F" word is mentioned some. Not sure how many times because I muted through them (and it starts right from the beginning) The movie in my oppinion had some unnecessary crudeness for my taste but.... the romance in the movie is so good it left you wanting so much more and way out shined the language and crudeness) The chemistry between Catherine Zeta Jones and Justin Bartha just worked so wonderfully. I have watched this movie 3 times already this week and want to watch it again. You fall so in love with Aram's character. It's so rare to see a guy so faithfully devoted to his true love these days. His character made the movie. Catherine Zeta Jones did an outstanding job as well. The kids were funny too. The bowling scene was one of my favorites. For couples or women that are looking for something to do on a weekend or afternoon by themselves this is the perfect romance movie. (as long as you can handle the crudeness factor and a little language.)I still give it 5 stars because it left me wanting more.... More romance...more Aram.Save 41% Off
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