Review of The Savages (2007) by Justin A — 07 Apr 2009

Wendy [Laura Linney] and Jon [Philip Seymour Hoffman] are siblings that are forced to embark on the journey of having to take care of their father, Lenny Savage [Philip Bosco] after his girlfriend of 20 years dies and has to move out of her home in Sun City, Arizona. Wendy and Jon are suddenly thrown into a pool of responsibility because most people don't usually think about the 'What if' scenarios in Life. What if my parent[s] begin to fade? What if dementia strikes them for what seems to be out of the blue? There are certain aspects of life we as humans are aware will happen, but if we're consciously thinking about tragedy, how could we move forward? How could these characters move forward if they have to be alert to the undeniable truth that we will all suffer one way or another eventually?

Wendy and Jon are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but while not completely obvious, they're both curious as to how each-other can behave they way they do about the current situation. Jon wants no questions asked about where to put his father, he wants to get things done with out emotion, because he knows it Has to be done. Wendy over-thinks and second guesses every decision made, because she knows the decision isn't an easy one, it's for her Father's well-being. Both characters are right and both characters are wrong.

I admire Tamara Jenkin's ability to write and direct a dramedy without falling into the stereotypical trappings of the "Independent Coming-of-Age Story". She tackles this tough subject with a very honest and real light. She shows us the very complex path that all of our roads will probably lead to -- being the on-looker, being the child, and being the parent. But it's not all tragic and dark. The film is often humorous, even heart-warming, but always reminding us that life is fragile.