Review of How I Live Now (2013) by Jacob G — 15 Apr 2014

There's a really, really awesome movie here. It has some flaws--major flaws, even--but the awesome shines through.

The awesome is in the fabulous way the film takes an idealistic English countryside abode, showcases some family bliss, and then brings about World War III. It's well done, it's exhilarating, and it refuses to pull punches as it draws the viewer through those first few weeks.

Unfortunately, trying to shoehorn in a romantic aspect brought the believablity down. Their chemistry was fine, just brought about way too quickly, even for a movie. Kiss one day, sex the next, and then the following day you refuse to leave the country so you can stay with this guy? You know, 10 points for feeling, but minus a billion for smarts.

But even as the driving force for many of the events in the movie, the romance can't kill off the other good ideas, interestingly subtle characterization, and general atmosphere that How I Live Now presents.