Review of The Descendants (2011) by In Your D — 05 Dec 2012

I was very pleased with this quirky family drama about a lawyer and his kin struggling to deal with the imminent death of a loved one.

Some might approach warily a film about grief as a driving force, but it is actually a very balanced adult comedy with plenty of light-hearted demeanor. Watching the characters cope and grow together was a pleasure. Clooney is easily likable as an anxious patriarch. I was expecting him to chew the scenery but he was very minimal and also occasionally quite hilarious. He is not an idiot. The relationship with his daughters is well done, and Shailene Woodley deserves a special nod for holding her own next to an accomplished star. She is very charming; There is a moment early on where she weeps while submerged in a swimming pool that instantly made me like her. "Did you have to tell me in the fucking pool?".

All of the supporting performances feel spot on and in touch with the black humor heart of the film, helped by a script that rings true to human impulse thanks to the direction and insight of dark comedy veteran Alexander Payne and company. Setting the story in Hawaii with a resort lifestyle culture was a bold move. Money is not an issue for these people, but lawyer Matt establishes early on in a voice over that he at least earned his fortune. A subplot involves a land auction and the inevitable relinquishment of huge swaths of native soil for commercial development. The Descendants is compassionate to the heritage of Hawaii, and the legacy of the King's estate frames the events of the film appropriately.

Alex Payne is responsible for a few other outstanding dramadies, namely 2004's well-received Sideways and the underrated About Schmidt in 2002, both inspired movies about men stumbling through mid-life crises with the help of friends and family. This is the best iteration yet of that formula; There are revelations of adultery, satisfying confrontations and plenty of awkward moments. It's all quite funny, sad, and moving in equal measure.

Some folks will inevitably find this film pretentious because of its subject matter, but that is a disservice to the strong writing and performances on display. It's so nice to be able to take in a simple movie set in the current era in gorgeous tropical climes with normal people who deal with a common issue in a realistic way. There are also some very well staged shots: one scene ends with Matt going to bed, and the following scene appears as though it is a dream he is having, but after a few seconds we realize it's actually the next day! Very subtle and very cool. The Descendants is high-brow comedy, a glass of sugary-sweet lemonade for the mind.