STUCK IN LOVE

US, 2012, 97 minutes, Colour.

Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connolly, Lily Collins, Nat Wolff, Kristin Bell, Logan Lerman, Liana Liberato. Voice of Stephen King.

Directed by Josh Boone.

Not to be confused with Stuck on You, 2003, also starring Greg Kinnear.

This is a first feature film from Josh Boone, later to make The Fault in our Stars and The New Mutants.

The film covers different aspects of love and relationships. At the core of the film is the story of celebrated author, Bill (Greg Kinnear), divorced now for three years from Erica (Jennifer Connolly) who is married again. He has not accepted the break. He lives down the street. He stalks his ex-wife, going at night looking at her window. She is aware of this and tries to dissuade him. She also urges him to develop relationships and he has casual sex with a neighbour on her way to collect her daughter from school, played by Kristin Bell who urges him to remarry.

The title then focuses on Bill’s to children. The older is Samantha (Lily Collins), talented author, 19 years old, bitter against her mother and the divorce, refusing to speak to her. She is hard with young men she picks up at bars and has one night stands. She is cynical in her attitudes which are also incorporated into the book she publishes. However, there is a young student in her college class, creative writing, who is attracted to her, speaks to her, she putting him down, he persevering, Louis (Logan Lerman). She is affected by his devotion, goes to his house to discover that his mother is dying of a brain cancer. Her book is launched by Professor with great aplomb, her father invited to speak to the guests and making a strong speech about creative writing, her mother coming from a book signing and her coldly asking her name, Louis urging her to be kinder.

Rusty (Nat Wolff) is the younger son, also a writer, living at home, his father urging him to get out. He does have a school friend they share marijuana. However, is attracted to a young girl in his class, Kate (Liana Liberato), writes a poem about her, recited in class, and beginning a relationship with her which has some good results, some disastrous results.

There is a climax at the book launch, Kate drinking too much champagne, collapsing, combined family going to rescue her – some violence with repercussions for Rusty.

There is a wishful optimism about the resolution of the film, that all could be well. The family reunite at the Thanksgiving dinner, Erica coming home, Samantha with Louis, how things ought to be (which sometimes irks film critics who want tougher, more difficult endings).

And, there is success for Rusty, Samantha sending Stephen King Rusty’s story, Stephen King phoning to say he had sent to a publisher and encouraging Rusty.

1. Title? The different kinds of love and relationships, freely entered into, broken, trapped?
2. An American story, the setting, the town, the beaches, homes, streets, schools, college, libraries, book signings, book functions? The musical score? Songs?
3. Bill at the centre of the film, age, writer, success and reputation, the marriage to Erica, Samantha and Rusty, the breakup of the marriage, the later revelation of his infidelity and Erica’s waiting for him, his stalking Erica, spying on the house, the sexual relationships with Tricia, his being stuck in love for Erica? Expecting her back, setting the place always at Thanksgiving?
4. The focus on Rusty, age, living at home, encouraged to write by his father, supportive of his sister, reclusive, friends at school, marijuana, the focus on Kate, seeing all her with the boyfriends, writing the poem, reading it in class, her favourable comment? The meeting, the conversation, the poem for her, his father urging him to go out, going to the party, observing Kate and the cocaine, the boyfriend, wanting to save her, punching the boyfriend, taking her home, meeting his father, the friendship, the outings, the developing relationship, her sexual experience, going to the cupboard, her Christmas gift?
5. Samantha, anger with her mother, refusing to speak to her, love for her father, supportive of Rusty, coming home, the publishing of the book, her father upset that it was not the book he worked on to with her, his calming down? Samantha, bitter, the casual relationships, picking up in diners? Louis, attracted to her, the conversations, coming back, her cynicism, putting him down? Gradual change, exchange of ideas and favourite books, listening to the CD in the car? Going to his home, discovering his mother, sick, the brain cancer?
6. Bill and Erica, the meetings, the discussions, the reminiscences, at the shopping mall? Erica and her concession? The fact that she had married again?
7. Samantha, the book launch, the professor and the welcoming, inviting Bill to speak, his quoting Raymond Carver, the response of the audience? Samantha bringing Louis? Rusty bringing Kate? Erica, waiting, coming in, the conversations with ? His urging her to speak to Samantha, Samantha’s coldness, signing of the book, asking her identity, Louis and his reaction?
8. Samantha and Kate, the issue of the champagne, the man at the bar, giving the drinks, Kate and further drinks, collapsing, being taken away? The whole group searching for her, finding her, rusty and the assault? Rescuing Kate? The later consequences, Rusty and his friend, the supermarket, the chase and the violence?
9. Bill and Samantha on the beach, his confessing her about his infidelity? A change of attitude, going to her mother?
10. Samantha sending Rusty’s story to Stephen King, Stephen King’s encouraging phone call and the effect on rusty?
11. The Thanksgiving dinner, Erica arriving, the others present?
12. The sentiment the end of the film, love, unstuck, renewed?