Review of The Words (2012) by Rick B — 07 Dec 2012

Blah. Of all the words to use to describe a movie called The Words -- that's the best one: blah. This is one of those movies that takes itself way too seriously and believes it will be something important because it is supposed to contain a message .

.. although if nobody in the movie learns one or wants to learn one there is no real point to it. The Words wanted to be something great but it never stands a chance as it is lite on story and heavy on narration (the kiss of death).

If a filmmaker is unsure whether or not emotion or motivation or feeling(s) comes across on screen, they will use excessive narration to spackle the holes and shortcomings in their story and script. A LOT of spackle was used in The Words.

The majority of the film is narrated by writer Clay Hammond (Dennis Quaid - The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, Frequency) who reads aloud two exerpts of his latest book to a gathering of fans -- which includes a coy and inquisitive Daniella (Olivia Wilde - Tron: Legacy, The Change-Up, Cowboys & Aliens).

His book is about another writer, Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook, The Hangover, The A-Team), whose latest work is highly successful and praised the world over but is a fraud as it was written by another (Rory runs across a manuscript from the 1940's and publishes it as his own).

When confronted by the purported writer of The Words in his manuscript, Rory struggles with what to do to make things right. And ... we get a lot of narration to explain his feelings. And more narration.

The story had some potential; but I think the story telling the story distracts -- even if there are valid reasons for the framing device. Perhaps a more apt director (this film had two) could have handled this better as this comes across as preachy and trite yet baffling at the same time because it is over-wrought with bland emotion.

It is ALL faux frippery.