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Aug 22, 2014 · A comedy with no laughs. A drama disconnected from any known reality. It’s tempting to diagnose “Are You Here” with schizophrenic genre disorder.
After his eccentric pal (Zach Galifianakis) inherits a fortune from his estranged father, an aimless, womanizing weatherman (Owen Wilson) becomes involved in the legal battle initiated by his...
- (50)
- Matthew Weiner
- R
- Owen Wilson
- Not all there.
- Verdict
By Max Nicholson
Posted: Aug 23, 2014 5:21 am
From writer-director Matthew Weiner (the creator of Mad Men) comes Are You Here, an introspective comedy featuring three talented people -- Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis and Amy Poehler -- in an overlong story about grief, friendship, family and, to its detriment, existentialism. While it's clear that Weiner has something big to say in his first feature film, most viewers will probably be scratching their heads as to what that was, mainly because the filmmaker's intent is muddled, conflicting and ambiguous.
The story follows womanizing weatherman Steve Dallas (Wilson), whose eccentric best friend Ben Baker (Galifiniakis) just inherited his estranged father's fortune. But as Steve helps Ben settle legal challenges brought on by Ben's assertive sister Terri (Poehler), Ben undergoes a gradual transformation from nonconformist pothead to functioning member of society. (As to whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is never totally certain.) Later, Steve and Ben's friendship is tested by Ben's father's widow Angela (played by Laura Ramsey), who, by Steve's request, continues to live at Ben's willed estate, mostly to keep an eye on the troubled Ben.
Suffice to say, Are You Here is a bit of an odd duck given its quirky premise, but the film only delves into weirder territory as the story goes on. There's a kind of beating around the bush that occurs among the odd trio of Steve, Ben and Angela -- almost a symbiotic push and pull that leads them down all manner of strange paths.
At the same time, these characters constantly goad each other into waxing philosophical, usually to an abstract degree. This is especially the case with Galifianakis's character, who struggles with bipolar disorder. Alas, what we're left with is a confusing bunch of people that seem to know nothing about anything. Of course, that could be the point of Weiner's inactive story, but if that's the case, it all feels like a waste of time.
Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner's first feature film isn't as deep as you'd expect, but as a comedy, Are You Here offers brief moments of hilarity amidst an otherwise muddled story. At nearly two hours long, the film gets tiresome about halfway through, but stars Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis and Amy Poehler make the rest of it at least somewhat en...
- Max Nicholson
Aug 22, 2014 · Are You Here proves a gently immersive, ingratiating, often witty character comedy with a pair of comfortably effective lead performances. Read More By Gary Goldstein FULL REVIEW
- (23)
- Matthew Weiner
- R
Flawed friendship dramedy has plenty of drugs, some sex. Read Common Sense Media's Are You Here review, age rating, and parents guide.
- Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler
- Matthew Weiner
- Millennium Entertainment
Many a critic has said that there's nothing worse than an unfunny comedy...and Are You Here proves that point over and over again. Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Aug 22, 2014
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Are You Here (also known as You Are Here) is a 2013 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matthew Weiner. The film stars Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis and Amy Poehler. The plot follows a bipolar man who inherits his estranged father’s fortune and must then battle his sister in court for it while simultaneously battling his ...
8.0/10 (1522 reviews)
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