Barnes & Noble

Unabashedly sentimental and shrewdly manipulative, this domestic drama boasts a fine acting ensemble led with bravado by Kevin Kline, whose magnetic presence draws out the best in a superb supporting cast. He plays George, a luckless middle-aged man who, after losing both his wife and his job, learns that he’s terminally ill, with just four months to live. Suddenly inflamed with ambition, George sets out to achieve two long-standing goals: rebuilding his ramshackle house overlooking the Pacific and reconnecting with his estranged son, who reluctantly helps with the construction. Kline, of course, provides the film’s emotional core; his plight is touching, but his resolve is admirable, and you’ll find yourself rooting for him to complete both tasks. Young Hayden Christensen is terrific as George’s truculent, drug-dependent son, who gradually comes to understand and cherish the father he previously resented. Kristin Scott Thomas is also convincing in a difficult role, that of George’s ex-wife, whose love for him was reduced to a flicker but was never entirely extinguished. Also excellent are Mary Steenburgen as George’s seductive neighbor and Jena Malone as her daughter, who becomes attached to the dying man’s wayward son. Director Irwin Winkler (At First Sight) brings welcome panache to the treacly material and encourages his actors to focus on making their characters believable, thus transcending the script’s inherent sappiness. Life as a House is definitely an actor’s film, and anybody who appreciates the craft will be moved by its effectiveness. Winkler supplies a feature-length commentary for the DVD, which includes two documentaries about the film’s production, several deleted scenes, and DVD-ROM content. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Kevin Kline stars as George, a down-on-his-luck architect in this tearjerker from Irwin Winkler (At First Sight, Guilty By Suspicion). A disdainful local character who draws disapproval from the community, particularly his neighbor played by Mary Steenburgen, George sets out to change his life after suddenly losing his longtime job and discovering he's terminally ill (he has cancer). Attempting to reconnect with his estranged and troubled son, Sam (Hayden Christiansen), George endeavors to spend the summer they have together building his dream home by the sea. The laborious process leads to the rebuilding of dissipated relationships, the birth of new ones, and all-around healing. ~ Rachel Deahl, All Movie Guide

Los Angeles Times

A heart-warming, involving experience. Kevin Thomas

Product Details

• UPC: 794043547126
• Source: NEW LINE HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital, stereo, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 2:04:00
• Sales Rank: 2,663

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