Review of The Ice Storm (1997) by Brandon W — 09 Sep 2007

Dad comes home and says to his kids, "Hey guys, I'm back!" His son's response: "You were gone?" This sets up the movie that, among other things, potrays the disconnect between parents and their children. Other examples include when Ricci is caught experimenting with one of the younger boys and is told Margaret Mead anthropological theory as a reason to protect her body and Kline insists that his son not masturbate in the shower because "It wastes water and electricity and because we all expect you to be doing it there in any case.".

Everybody is complacent and bored with their lives in Ang Lee's attack on the American family in the 1970's. The parents experiment sexually with affairs and "wife swapping" while the children react in turn with their own experimentation with drugs and sex. Kevin Kline and Joan Allen struggle to stay together while their son hopes to get laid and their daughter sleeps with anyone interested. It all culminates with a literal ice storm that breaks the ice within themselves.