Review of About Schmidt (2002) by Rainer K — 01 Feb 2012

What happens after finishing the American Dream?

If you've gone the American way like Warren Schmidt and you've arrived at the end of the road you gotta ask yourself this question.

Retired, rather unsatisfied with his life and griefing about the choices he couldn't/hasn't made in the past he faces mortality as his wife dies quite suddenly.

Slow and ponderous the film moves along like Warren moves along with his new life. I found it quite boring at times and the rare moments when Payne captures the comedy within the tragedy in his poignant style don't make up for it.

I never really felt for Warren and liked the funny parts of the film more than the serious ones. I wasn't really interested in his life or problems or maybe I'm just too young to understand him.