Georgia Rule (2007)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writer (WGA):

Mark Andrus (written by)

Release Date:

11 May 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In this family, attitude doesn't skip a generation.

Plot:

Rachel comes to stay with her Grandmother Georgia for the summer leaving some obvious problems behind at home...

Plot Keywords:

Grandmother | Secret | Alcoholic Mother | Idaho | Mormon

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jane Fonda	...	Georgia
Lindsay Lohan	...	Rachel Wilcox
Felicity Huffman	...	Lilly
Dermot Mulroney	...	Dr. Simon Ward
Cary Elwes	...	Arnold
Garrett Hedlund	...	Harlan
Hector Elizondo	...	Izzy
Dylan McLaughlin	...	Sam
Zachary Gordon	...	Ethan
Laurie Metcalf	...	Paula
Tereza Stanislav	...	Violin Teacher
Fred Applegate	...	Townie #1
Cynthia Ferrer	...	Townie #2
Destiney Sue Walker	...	Waitress (as Destiney Moore)
Adreana Betan	...	Izzy's Niece

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

USA:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-13 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

California State University Northridge - 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Lindsay Lohan's character (Rachel) is attending Vassar College in the fall. Jane Fonda attended Vassar College in real life.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie, Rachel lies down in the shade of a billboard on the side of the road. When they cut to the wide shot the shadow of the billboard is on the opposite side so Rachel is in sunlight. This might have symbolized the passing of time, but in the next shot, when Harlen comes to wake her, she is clearly in the shade again.

Quotes:

Rachel: You don't have to brush me or feed me after riding me.

Movie Connections:

Features "Jeopardy!" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Born in the 70's

Good, if flawed, film

Before watching the DVD of Georgia Rule last night, I knew nothing about the film other than it was savaged by critics and was a huge theatrical bomb. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was though, especially the acting from Lindsay Lohan. Her character in the film, as well as in real life, is one messed up young woman. Doing or saying whatever is needed at the time to get her through the situation, her character is very realistic and believable. I personally know a young woman with just these types of issues and reactions. Ms. Lohan's acting ability is phenomenal - and like other amazing, but difficult, actors, her off-screen antics never show up in the finished product. If she can straighten her life out, an Academy Award will be hers someday.

As always, it's wonderful seeing Jane Fonda back on the silver screen - and she looks superb! Too bad Mary Tyler Moore went crazy with the plastic surgery or she could (and should!) look this good now, too. Felicity Huffman is, as usual, stunning - her work is simply too good to ignore - hopefully, her and her husband, William H. Macy, will act together in the future. I'm surprised he wasn't involved in this project as a producer or something, like he was in Transamerica.

This film is difficult - it's a very, very serious film with deep, hard-to-watch issues going on. Yet, at the same time, Garry Marshall has tried to make it a light-hearted comedy too - it can't be both. From the looks of the finished product, I'd say a lot of the film ended up on the cutting room floor - too many scenes are simply not dealt with the way they should have been - like when Jane goes to buy the liquor - where's the struggle with the issue of what she is doing? Nowhere - instead we are treated to a, supposed, comical scene of her trying to hide the fact she's bought the liquor. Bizarre! It's like the film makers felt the movie had gotten too heavy at that point and needed some comic relief. Strange! The Mormon aspect was dealt with poorly too - the guy's issues with not having pre-marital sex rang false - an LDS (Mormon) church member, who was raised in the church, would know the reason why pre-marital sex is frowned upon, not just that it would "make God mad." The writer seems to know no more about the LDS religion and beliefs than some person told him - and he seemed to do no more in-depth research about it.

Still, don't let these complaints turn you off from seeing Georgia Rule. It's well worth your 2 hours.