Crappy film

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is a great film about a man who tries to reconnect with his daughters and sort things out after his wife is critically injured in a boating accident. Alexander Payne has surely become a voice to be reckoned with, and each new film of his brings about a new layer of complexity to his work. George Clooney manages to show us that he indeed a good actor when in his element and both Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller are exceptional as his daughters. The setting is gorgeous Hawaii and although this isn't a "visual" film per se there is a symphony of sorts between the emotions of the main characters and the seas and plains of Hawaii. This is one unmissable film.

First proposition: Your wife is in a coma. You find out she had an affair. What do you do? Hate her for it, or do you forgive her? Second proposition: You are already very wealthy, but if you sell a big piece of land, that has belonged to native hawaiians for centuries, you will become multi millionaire. Will you sell the land to a big hotel chain, which will build hotels and casino's, and become even wealthier or will you preserve this pristine piece of nature land for the native hawaiians?"The Descendants" is the story about a grieving family on Hawaii. George Clooney has to take care of his 2 daughters alone, because his wife is in a permanent coma. Then he finds out his wife was cheating on him. How he deals with these feelings of betrayal is what this delicate story is all about. How he raises his 2 teenage daughters on his own while his comatose wife probably isnt gonna wake up again, is the other part of the story. It is a moving story about the LOSS OF family and it also about THE BETRAYAL BY family. Director Alexander Payne wrote and produced this movie. It is sad at some moments, still quite funny at other moments. Sweet and melancholic, is the general mood of this story. Delicate and peaceful story. Very touching. This director has got the talent to make any picture he makes glow in a feel good light, without getting sentimental.I usually avoid pictures about sick hospitalized people, spare me that drama, because I will get so sad seeing it. And although "The Descendants" deals a lot with sickness, loss and grieving of family members, there are enough funny moments to keep this story upbeat enough to be able to enjoy it as a sweet, melancholic story. This family WAS broken up, but has found a way to HEAL and become closer then they were before. It really touched me. Felt at peace in the end. Lovely bitter sweet portrait of a family at drift...

Poignant, engrossing slice of life with Clooney in peak form as Matt King-a workaholic, Honolulu-based real estate attorney, distant husband, and "backup parent" of two rebellious daughters. He's also the sole trustee of 25,000 pristine acres on the island of Kauai, but his once monotonous life hits a major detour when a boating accident leaves his wife in a coma, and he discovers that she was having an affair. Now at a crossroads, he's forced (for the first time in years) to fully embrace his role as a husband and father, and make some critical decisions moving forward. Thoughtful, well-made comedy-drama is interesting and insightful every step of the way with compelling themes, characters who are real, first-rate performances, and beautiful, breathtaking Hawaiian scenery as an added bonus. ***

I watched this because of all the hype, and, as usual, I was sorely disappointed. In fact, there is absolutely nothing good I can say about it. Basically, it's a 2 hour soap opera, and I've even seen better soap opera. The writing is dull, witless, and totally pedantic. The direction is formulaic at best and totally unimaginative. I've seen better TV shows. But the prize goes to the actors...some of the worst acting I've seen in years in a feature (but then I don't watch many new films). The best I can say of Clooney is that he has a funny run in sandals, but then I haven't liked anything he's done since ER. The rest of the cast is just plain bad. Bottom line? Don't waste a second on this garbage.