Review of Pleasantville (1998) by Xou X — 28 Sep 2009

Pleasantville is a pleasant film. Before Spiderman and before Legally Blonde, there was Pleasantville. A film about two teenage kids that go back in time in the old days. The days where people say "Honey, I'm Home". But its really not the past as much as being transferred to T.V Land. I often want myself to be transferred to I love Lucy. I would love to spend a moment with her. She is quite dandy.

Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon are siblings. One is socially inept and the other is a bitch. But that doesnt help them from escaping reality. Parents are divourced and the mother is struggling. So why not escape life and walk into one that is pure perfect. One that has no conflict and carry a unlimted supply of bacon and pancakes. But humerously, one that is black and white. You see where this is going? Some old guy dropps off a T.V remote that basically puts the two in this "perfect" world in order for the both of them to get along with eachother. Now the fun starts and let the sinning begin.

The entirety of the film was to teach family lessons and the same time ruin another. But in other words, you can say "live a little". Pleasantville, may you have sex and start fires. Two things that hardly ever happens in Pleasantville. Also note that Pleasantville was basically earth. Hmm, clausterphobia at its best.

The characters are family fond and play perfect basketball and where simply giving a pen to a classmate means love. Thats where its humour sets off. They are not us and we are not them. But there is something to learn from both sides. And thats appreciation. On both social life and family. Theres a particular scene where Jennifer(Reese) decides to stay in Pleasantville because life was better, while David(Tobey) decides to go back. Those two scenerios tells the audience that acceptance can be found in other places and when that occurs, your likely to stay with it. Although both decisions by the siblings was a little different.

Its charming cast and crafty visuals makes this eye candy but what makes it better is that the message cleary expresses itself in many interpretations. Many films can have a title that end at "Ville" but none of them can compare to that which is pleasant. Simply magnificent and funny in nature. This is where teen comedy takes a stand.