Hyde Park on Hudson

Hyde Park on Hudson

Rated R and Released 1/4/12

Reviewed 1/4/12 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary, Lynne and Scott (Lynne's husband)

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

It was hard to get used to Bill Murray portraying Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Not that he does a bad job (he actually grows on you), but it takes time and at 94 minutes maybe it just wasn't enough time this time. We all felt the same way and we don't get Scott to that many movies. We'll give it another try soon, Scott.

The movie is told from the point of view of FDR's distant cousin Daisy (Laura Linney). She enters his life as strangely as she stays in it. It takes place in 1939, the cusp of World War II, and the Roosevelt family is at FDR's mother's country home preparing for the visit of the stuttering King of England, Edward VI and wife Elizabeth (remember The King's Speech?). FDR is not really portrayed very presidential, but to the movie's credit he was in a relaxed atmosphere. You begin to feel sorry for Eleanor (FDR's wife played by Olivia Williams) as FDR is very open having his mistresses around in this atmosphere. Although she seems to be accepting and almost prideful about it. The Royals arrive and there are many humorous scenes that involve the snooty British couple. The King ultimately wants to get on FDR's good side with a few favors to ask, like lending a hand to defeating the rest of the world. The story is heading in one direction...the war. No...to the good old country barbecue with hot dogs as the main fare. Of course the Royals were repulsed, but they needed to play along. Heartbreak and drama involving the women in Roosevelt's life is not a surprise with everyone in close quarters. It was an enjoyable enough story, but very slow. The movie made you almost forget the good things we are supposed to remember about our former President. A famous saying sums it up, "what made FDR great was not how he was the same, but how he was different." And different he was.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJj