Two-time Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis reunites with fellow two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks for the fifth time in "Here," from TriStar Pictures. This film also marks Zemeckis's second collaboration with screenwriter Eric Roth and actress Robin Wright, both of whom he worked with on "Forrest Gump."
The film is an adaptation of the same-titled 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire. Somewhat of a chamber piece, "Here" takes a non-linear approach for its plot and over the events of a single spot of land and its inhabitants, spanning from the distant past to contemporary times. The main meat of the plot, though, centers on the Young family.
The narrative begins with patriarch and war veteran Al (portrayed by Paul Bettany) and his wife, Rose (played by Kelly Reilly), who purchased a residence in the mid-1940s. They subsequently raise three children, one of whom is the protagonist, Richard (portrayed by Tom Hanks). As Richard matures, he marries Margaret (played by Robin Wright), and they eventually have a daughter. However, due to financial difficulties, Richard must remain home with his parents. The audience then goes on the family's journey through their ups and downs over the decades.
Arguably, Robert Zemekicks has the luster he once had as a filmmaker. So, on paper, it would seem like "Here," which reunites the director, writer, and stars of "Forrest Gump," would knock it out of the park. Sadly, the film is a little too overambitious for its good.
For the most part, Hanks, Wright, Beatty, and Riley, who have the most screen time, deliver the goods in the acting department as they bring their natural charm to the screen. Wright is solid as a woman who sees her dreams sidetracked for the good of her family. Now, pulling off a Chamber piece takes some skills, and for the most part, I get the intent that Zemekicks was going for, but it's also what hinders the film with parallel stories.
The film attempts to weave together a tapestry of narratives, each offering a glimpse into the lives of diverse characters. One prominent thread follows Will, the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Daniel Beets, whose journey is marked by the complexities of his lineage. In another storyline, Leo, played by David Fynn, is presented as the claimed inventor of the Laz-e-boy recliner, adding an eccentric charm to the overall narrative.
Simultaneously, a modern-day Black family, portrayed by Nicholas Pinnock and Nikki Amuka-Bird, navigates their challenges, occupying the same historical space as the other characters but during different eras. Despite the rich potential of these plots, they ultimately emerge as distractions that detract from the central storyline rather than serve to deepen the viewer's understanding of the main themes.
In this context, it could be argued that "Here" would have been more suitable as a limited series rather than a full-length feature film. While the height of Zemeckis's creative prowess appears to have passed, "Here" nevertheless mildly demonstrates elements of his previously established humanistic storytelling approach.
Final Grade: C
"Here" is in theaters now
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