Rashida Jones and Bill Murray star in the Sofia Coppola comedy On the Rocks. When Laura suspects that her husband is cheating on her, her father feeds her suspicions and offers to help catching him. Both Jones and Murray give strong performances and have good comedic chemistry. And Coppola does an impressive job at creating three dimensional characters that are relatable. However, the plot is kind of weak and unfocused at times; which hurts the pacing. On the Rocks has its problems, but it’s still an entertaining film with something to say about trust and family.
I have to say that I was bored with this movie. I didn’t feel empathy for any of the characters. They all seemed very one dimensional. What could have been comedic performances from Murray and Wayans was absent. It’s a shame because the cast ensemble was good but the script and direction was just so bland that these actors could only fail to turn it into anything more than forgettable.
If the trailer made it feel like this was going to be just another :pound_symbol:RichPeopleProblems film...well, you're not wrong. What could have been a completely tone-deaf and alienating film, luckily, is saved by Rashida Jones and Bill Murray. In less capable actors' hands, this could have been a slog. However, our two leads are charming, somewhat relatable (well, in the case of Murray's character, in that you feel like you know someone like him), and play into their odd father/daughter dynamic quite well. It's not groundbreaking, but if you still have some time left on your free AppleTV+ trial, it's worth a go.
Turned out better than expected!
Two hours of daddy issues and rich people problems
[Apple Tv +] I find it difficult to connect with this rich girl with insecurities about her husband's fidelity. Sofia Coppola imitates Woody Allen, but she comes up with a comedy so subtle that it's not funny. The dialogues aren't particularly brilliant, and the father-daughter relationship is very strained at times. Although we have long forgiven Bill Murray for playing himself always, even he can't save the movie.
To like -
To not like -
- Overly long set up.
- Under-used plot twist (cough: Mexico)
- Poor dialogue for the husband.
- Limpy ending...
(and how does this film have 20 stunt people?)
6/10 - largely on the strength of Murray's charm as without it, there's nothing to see here as far as plot.
When you think that Sophie and Bill created Lost in Translation, this was hugely disappointing. But one strong plus, I didn't feel the need to pause the movie when I went for a snack break - so it didn't waste as much of my time as it could have ; )
In the opening scenes of the movie we see Rashida Jones' Laura welcoming one and then two children into the world. We see her spending large chunks of her life shuttling her kids around town and doing all of the jobs that a mother does throughout the day while struggling to do the job that pays the bills. Her husband Dean seems to be a bit of an absent father and husband as he has launched a new company and travels quite a bit. Early in the movie we learn that Laura suspects that Dean might be having an affair.
Enter her father Felix, played by Bill Murray. Murray plays a role - the extremely flawed man - that we've seen him play before but never quite like this. Felix left his young family for another woman and then another one after that and another one after that. He has little regard for women and isn't afraid to say as much. This is easily one of my favorite roles of his as I think that he is an excellent dramatic actor but there is still a touch of comedy that is bubbling below the surface. His character in this movie reminds me a bit of the character he played in the fantastic Broken Flowers, although in that role he played a broken man that knew he was broken and was trying to salvage a life lived poorly.
If you pay attention in the middle scenes you can see how this is all going to play out but it matters not. The best scenes in the movie are the ones where Laura and Felix interact on screen. Despite being abandoned by her father as a child Laura does not seem to harbor any ill will towards him. Despite his misogyny Felix seems to deeply care for his daughter. As they traverse around New York Felix seems almost giddy to show off his daughter to the people that he knows well (although never missing a chance to hit on a woman). Needless to say they are perfectly cast. I've been waiting to see Jones in a role like this for a long time as I feel that she has the charisma and chops to pull off this kind of role.
I believe that the film is ultimately about motherhood and all of the challenges that come with it. Dean is allowed to come in and out of the movie. At times he is allowed to change his costume into a father and at other times he is a well-dressed businessman. But in every scene Laura has on her mother suit. In the few times that she is out on the town she always looks nice but is often a tad underdressed for the occasion. Unlike other movies where you see the mother in curlers and in the middle of a nervous breakdown (Tully comes to mind) Laura is - other than the little thing with her husband - in a good place in her life. While she may feel lesser than the younger and very attractive women in Dean's orbit there is a sparkle that only a mother pushing forty will have. Her conversations with her misogynistic father show us how some men will appreciate this kind of woman while others will not.
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A'ight i guess, Bill Murray was good.
I like the cast, and the movie has some nice cinematography, but man, I just feel like I wasted my time with this one. It just feels like the story ultimately goes nowhere. I mean I kind of understand what they're going for, but the ending feels too flat to work for me.
This movie was somewhat of a letdown to me. Murray and Jones always have high expectations for me, and Wayans is a guilty pleasure. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to have any of their usual charm in the movie. It was fine. Well acted and whatnot, it just dragged and was too slow from time to time. Not one I would recommend to everyone, but there will surely be an audience out there for it.
Rating: 2/5 - 6.5/10 - Would Not Recommend to Everyone
The difficulty with being the daughter of Bill Murray and, well, it really is that nothing happens. can be seen.
so very disappointed. waste of time
There are no great insights here, though the dialogue is remarkably real and quirky, and the film is a pleasant watch.
I think the only parts that I really really enjoyed were the Phoenix song and the mono-dialogues by Jenny Slate.
Doesn't really go anywhere. Chuckled 3 or 4 times, but that was about it.
OMG such a disappointment. A film about nothing. Such a weak sauce. I still love Bill Murray though... but come on!
It starts well, but the end ... The best moments: Bill Murray's performance and Phoenix's music in the credits
Disappointing for a Bill Murray movie.
Avoidable.
Like others have said, Bill Murray is the only highlight of this movie...other than 2 super cute little girls! That littlest one mostly. :heart_eyes: Other than that, an hour & a half of my life I can't get back. Started scrolling through Facebook about halfway through it. Just boring.
Bill (mother fuckin') Murry - for the win.
movie was okay in general. Bill and Rashida sure held it together
A really poor, misogonystic script with the weakest female lead character in 100 years or so.
Shout by ThomasBonnBlockedParent2023-06-03T18:40:24Z
So it’s advertised as comedy, which is obviously wrong, but even as a drama this movie is extremely boring. There is no reason to watch it, even while cleaning the house. Better listen to something else instead.