So much average

Sadly Over-hyped

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

What do Lauren Graham and Tea Leoni have in common? The answer is simply that these are two actresses who were generally under-used in movies but could have done OH SO MUCH MORE. Some films work because of the script. Some work because of the director. And some work because of the chemistry. The day will come when film students of the future will look back at this era and have to content themselves with the slim body of work left behind by both these actresses. Arguably for example FAMILY MAN is Leoni's best role and indeed some of her fans claim to have seen the film over a dozen times. This unusual outing, THE ANSWER MAN, is arguably Graham's best effort. Sure the script is weak. Sure there are stretches when nothing seems to happen. But through it all we have the odd chemistry between Daniels (way before his breakout role in Newsroom) and Graham. This the glue that makes this film special. And memorable.

Arlen Faber is a celebrity. He has cornered the "God market" according to his agent. Like many writers of self help books, he is a guy in dire need of some guidance himself. In a way, he is a fraud, in that he just happened to write a book that went through the stratosphere as people that relate to the subject matter made it a hit. Unfortunately, Faber, in real life is a mess. He is pompous, inconsiderate, or just plain obnoxious, for starters.What makes Arlen change? He happens to meet Elizabeth, a chiropractor, that has a life and is exactly what he is not. Arlen, who hurts his back badly, can't even count on his agent to come to help him. What's more, the record he just put on the turntable happens to be "Isn't it Romantic" that gets scratched and Arlen has to listen to it all night long. When Arlen crawls over to Elizabeth's office, he is in for a rude awakening because his life is about to change. Elizabeth, a single mother, is a a grounded woman, so different from Arlen that one knows they will come together in the end.Meanwhile, Kris Lucas, the owner of a small store that buys and sells books, gets an unexpected visit by Arlen. He is trying to dump on the poor fellow a bunch of books that Kris can't afford to buy. Kris has just come out of a rehab center for alcoholics. Because of his situation, he has to live with his father, an arrangement he doesn't care for. When Kris discovers Arlen's true identity, he makes a deal; he will accept the books the celebrity author gives him in exchange for answers to questions that bother him. This exchange, while not helping Kris, brings the two so different men closer together."The Answer Man" is a sort of romantic comedy written and directed by John Hindeman, who makes his debut, although it appears he has been involved in television. The allure of watching the film was the fine cast that was put together. The film, while enjoyable, could have been much better if we really cared more about the main character. As written, the man is an enigma, up to the end, when he appears to have come to terms with reality.Jeff Daniels does what he can with Arlen. Mr. Daniels, a veteran of stage and screen, is a great and personable actor. Either the script, or the direction doesn't quite make us respond to him the way, we are sure, the creator wanted us to feel. Lauren Graham who plays Elizabeth has worked extensively on television and is finally getting the parts she deserves in films. Lou Taylor Pucci's Kris is not totally believable. Olivia Thirlby, Kat Dennings and Nora Dunn don't have much to do.The film, while not a complete failure, introduces a new talent to films, John Hindman, to whom we wish the best in his future projects.

I usually don't write reviews but rather I usually read them to see if the film is something I truly want to watch or not. But given the one, and only, poor review on here so far I thought I'd add some perspective. This film centers around Arlen, who is a irritable man who once authored an existential book but now lives in recluse and away from prying eyes. His character I find fully believable because there are many people who write a book or several books but don't want the fame handed them, they just simply wanted to write a good story or get their thoughts out, the fame was mere collateral damage. This is how Jeff Daniel's character feels. He dislikes people and attention in general. Partially due to not wanting the fame but partially due to having his own personal demons and issues. Along comes a struggling chiropractor who is trying to get her own business going and also a struggling recovering alcoholic who is trying to keep his small bookstore open. Their paths converge in various ways, of which I won't tell to leave some mystery to the reader. The chiropractor (Lauren Graham) eventually becomes Arlen's romantic interest. But it is not a simple or easy relationship and I don't feel that Arlen makes a magical unbelievable change as the prior review states. He is at first softened by her professional expertise and out of appreciation seems to let a door open and try to get to know her. I'd say him liking her son, and kids in general it seems, is part of his character. I would also say his character opens up to the bookstore owner (Pucci) because he is honest and persistent, things Arlen admires. Everyone has their demons and flaws in this movie which I feel add a certain honesty to the film. It didn't feel particularly flawed or predictable. Although there are a couple turn points and their consequences that felt predictable but in all I'd say it wasn't that predictable because of the characters not being formulaic. I thought the pacing was in general nice and enjoyable. If you want a dark comedy that becomes a bit lighter and romantic then this is for you. I'd say its a bit smarter and more enjoyable then most of the made for rudimentary teens romantic teens out there. Take this review at what you will but please read this and the prior for a more balanced view point of the film.

When drama is rushed it can feel like the slowest thing in the world. The characters never get any time to breathe. The turmoil that they go through feels so compact, tidy, and meager that it's like your watching nothing at all. That's what it's like watching "The Answer Man", writer/director John Hindman's dramedy-romance about trying to find God and the answers to life's problems. The quest for life's answers seems like a subject done before and this movie is way too bland, stale, and unbelievable to really find the heart.Jeff Daniels plays Arlen Faber, who 20 years ago wrote a book called "Me and God", centering around a conversation he had with the big man himself. The book was a mega-hit but nobody has ever really seen Faber in person. Perhaps because he's a reclusive, angry, stressed out asshole that hates people. He spends his days reading other self-help books and meditating; neither seems to lighten his miserable mood though. When he throws his back out one day, he meets a chiropractor named Elizabeth (Lauren Graham), an obsessive single mother trying to raise a young son. She has no idea who Arlen is at first but after reading the book, she seems to think that he is the one for her. Luckily he likes her too. Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci) completes this tripod of people. He's a recovering alcoholic, just out of rehab, managing a failing bookstore.The whole thing follows James L. Brooks' "As Good as it Gets", without ever reaching a great movie, or even a good one. These people will come together and help each other but it's all done in such a weak and contrived way that none of it is effective. Arlen wants to get rid of some books so he makes a deal with Kris in exchange for some life answers. But can't Arlen just throw them away and not be bothered with Kris at all? And who is Arlen exactly? He changes from miserable crank to charming romantic lead with the snap of a finger. Saying he hates people in one scene and then taking on this silly relationship with Elizabeth where he shows her his monster action figure collection and befriends and acts as father to her young son are very schizophrenic and unbelievable. And Kris' failing business, his alcohol problem, Elizabeth's struggles raising a young son, and the daddy issues that Arlen, Kris and the son have are all given short shrift so that we can see a too-cute romance that never gets off the ground.If Hindman had taken more risks and allowed us to empathize with the characters a little more, this movie would have been much better but it just feels like everyone is trying to shoot it and then move on. No care is given. Daniels tries. He's a good physical comedian and some of the movies best lines come at his most cranky. "I hope to find a cure for people who listen to techno" Arlen mumbles at one point. Graham has a nice smile but she's not called upon to do much. And Pucci tries to grapple with the weight of addiction but he seems more like a fifth wheel than a character and his plot line is just distracting."The Answer Man" looked like a mature, adult answer to some of the crappier romantic comedies coming out this year but it winds up getting it mostly wrong.