Guilt Trip

Guilt Trip

Rated PG-13 and Released 12/21/12

Reviewed 12/31/12 at AMC Metreon in San Fransisco, CA

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Gary and I again found ourselves at the Metreon.

It's one of the nicest theaters we've been to out of town. Since we are such foodies we considered eating lunch at one of the four cool cafes by the ticket counter.

But alas we opted to instead maintain our roots and go with our second, but almost as good choice, the POPCORN and CANDY counter.

Phew! We made the right call and didn't rock the boat. We could enjoy our movie in the usual fashion.

A combination that is not expected, Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogen play mother (Joyce) and son (Andrew) in Guilt Trip. But what is expected is the very relatable banter between the two. The first half of the movie is pretty funny with the subtle Jewish mother humor and some snappier lines. Then it slows down concluding with a mildly sentimental ending.

Andy is an inventor struggling to get a break with his all-natural safe cleaning solution, who is smothered by his widowed mother. He is planning the business trip from his mother's New Jersey home to Las Vegas to pitch the product to the Home Shopping Network. One evening Joyce shares a story with Andy about her life pre-marriage and her soulmate that slipped away many years ago. The wheels are turning and he invites his mother to tag along, but Andy does not reveal his secret motive. Joyce is in, without hesitation. Stops along the way are supposed to provide some funny diversions but these scenes are just good bathroom breaks. The storyline is predictable as Andy pitches his product in Vegas and the pumped up duo head to San Fransisco, after Andy discloses the real purpose of that stop to seek out the love of her life. Joyce again is easy to convince. This movie was lighthearted and an easy one to see after the heavy Les Mis and Django. There is a tender moment ending that had a slight twist creating me to tear up for a second. But it abruptly ended as the movie did.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJj