Review of Sideways (2004) by Johnny T — 01 Mar 2014

Alexander Payne's movie, Sideways, makes you feel like you're trapped at dinner with a wiseass who's trying to convince you what a sensitive guy he is. A smart and delightful romantic comedy, yet in the course of creating his new charmer Alexander Payne has sheared off some of the rambunctious edges that made his previous films, Nebraska, About Schmidt, Election, and The Descendants, such marvelous studies in social parody. The performances of both leads (especially Giamatti), Virginia Madsen, and Sandra Oh are effective, and Payne does know how to capture two kinds of male menopause. There were some genuinely comic moments, but they were few and far between and overwhelmed by the film's other moments. The film needs more moments like the silly, enjoyable scene where Miles and Jack go after a cranky old golfer giving them trouble on the fairway. Payne's entertaining but familiar comedy lacks the insolence of his Election and the freshness of his work with Kathy Bates in About Schmidt. Sideways lacks the unique satiric vision of Election and About Schmidt, and covers less inspired, fairly typical midlife crisis material. Payne holds back some of the biggest laughs in the movie, allowing the audience to get to know the characters before delivering funny payoffs. Most movies aren't better than Sideways - it's just that Payne has directed several that are...

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).