Review of Labor Day (2013) by Nathan M — 06 Feb 2014

A lackluster, slow-paced, and overall boring romantic thriller that fails to be either romantic or thrilling. Jason Reitman, a director I've enjoyed for a long time now, brings an adaptation of a best-selling novel about an escaped convict who becomes a father figure for a young boy and a romantic interest for his ill mother. If you want to see this movie done better see Jeff Nichols' Mud. But unfortunately Reitman's Labor Day fails to really ever get off the ground.

Despite admirable performances and some enjoyable cinematography, there's nothing special about this movie. It's so sad to find out too, because this movie was one of my most anticipated films, but I just couldn't get into it. From the strange flashbacks, to the loose pacing, to the overly dramatic tone the whole movie seems to take itself way too seriously. It's clear that Reitman wants it to be something greater than it is, but when the film is so drab, it's hard for me to really be drawn into it.

The only scene where I felt any passion or joy was in the scene with Clark Gregg at the restaurant. Now, maybe this was the tone Reitman was trying to set, but I'm not sure it is. Either way, the joyless film just seems to drag on way too long, and I found myself getting less and less interested as it went on.