Review of The Details (2012) by Jackie M — 14 Feb 2016

OK, to be honest, I just watched this to see spider man cuss. But at the film's conclusion, I found it to be fun, but at certain points you'll certainly be thinking, "only in the movies." Were the plot twists anything new or extraordinary? A modern couple's priority of self-indulgence over directly solving marriage disputes unusual? Was this "comedy" Funny? Insightful? Unique? No, but the acting was fine and plot interesting enough to keep one engaged. To the point of exception and exhilaration? No. But good for just under a couple of hours of divergence from one's own lesser problems. The main purpose of this movie might simply be just to distract one from problems, lesser problems, a good distraction for a couple hours.

We do discover that Doc or Jeff (Tobey Maguire) may just have a bit of a tough time handling his personal problems, as he finds out from the act-like-a-man lecture at the hands of his college friend's cuckold husband, Peter (Ray Liotta). Jeff is a guy who cheated his way through medical school and can't quite seem to come to terms with being accountable and forthright. Instead of addressing his intimacy issues with his wife, Jeff goes on-line and gets into sex chats with on-line hookers. Upon confessing this to Rebecca, his college friend, a psychologist, she "helps" him by engaging in physical instead of psychological therapy in attempt to ease her own sexual frustrations with her husband, Peter. You would think these "professionals" would have learned some ethics while in med school, but it appears the message of Details is that we live in a society of self-indulgence not one of doing the right thing.

So the plot thickens. Jeff has to deal with the neighbour he impregnates, a basket ball buddy, Lincoln, who cleans things up by killing said neighbour, (Jeff has donated a kidney to save Lincoln's life), and Peter who blackmails Jeff, who mortgages his home only to have Peter throw the money into the river. Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. This is just everyday life ..... in the movies.

So we sit there watching, chuckling on occasion (the scene where Lila morns her cat is the high point) and just glad we are not in Jeff or Nealy's place (Elizabeth Banks). Overall, entertaining, but good not great at that.