jeffery-berry
I had no expectations for this charming documentary, but I was pleasantly surprised and moved. Beautifully crafted, this is a fresh take on an old subject, with a completely new and honest lens. The film follows five parallel stories of people in love, in search of love, falling out of love, and finding love that lasts a lifetime.The film is touching without being maudlin. It shows that love isn't always pretty or romantic, but sometimes requires pain. It's the hard work of love...the real "ever after." In the the "Extras" section of the DVD, the filmmakers like to laud the special New York character of the movie. But it could have been shot in Topeka or San Diego and been just as true to the mark. There is a universal feel to its humanity.
wingedheartart
I don't often review films. I love movies though, all kinds, including documentaries and shorts. While, most may think of New York as the beginning and end to stories of love, adventure and life…that isn't exactly true. This documentary did choose a somewhat diverse group of people and so it will keep you interested. SPOILERS!!!! The elderly couple was beautiful and heart breaking all at the same time. Their love story is what I hope we ALL aim for...the being with each other, through everything that comes, with dignity and loyalty and again, with much LOVE. The young Indian couple that got married, in my humble opinion should NOT have gotten married. That young man had about as much enthusiasm for his new wife, as a roll of toilet paper. He also lacked enthusiasm for pretty much everything around him. Why was he chosen for this film? I felt sorry for the new bride, but not completely, because she did choose him ....knowing he was rather numb and condescending. He was so cold and uncaring...kind of to an extreme...like he was emotionally lazy. Why he should be considered a "love" example is beyond me. (and lazy in other ways too...just watch how he is at home, at his parent's house.)The Man starting off with his two infants was WONDERFUL. Period. The love he had for those babies and his friends, his life, his job. I wish we could ALL have his enthusiasm for life and love. And, all without being corny or pushy with his emotions and personality. Those are two lucky babies to have him as a daddy.The young dating couple, with the girl being accepted to Dartmouth, was sweet, but I knew within minutes they wouldn't last in their relationship. Why? Once she was accepted to Dartmouth, she required constant reassurance from her boyfriend, that he would miss her, that he loved her, and in a whiny tone too. She was going through a typical and normal reaction to moving away and making a HUGE change in her life. But, instead of anyone in her family saying anything, she voiced her fears of the unknown, by getting constant affirmations of love from her boyfriend, who, as we all suspect, would be dropped the minute her fears were faced and she realized just how much fun she was going to have in school, meeting new people, new guys, and experiencing the world independently for the first time. She keeps him dangling though, by remaining "friends." Calling and encouraging her ex to keep in touch and to "check up on her weekly." Maybe she will mature in other ways while at Dartmouth. Take a few Psychology courses possibly.The Single dad who is set up by his son and his son's friend, with the mother of said friend, is the next example of a love relationship. I knew the FIRST minute I saw her with him, she was NOT into the dad. I don't know why she wasn't, he was funny, outgoing, handsome, a great and caring dad, a hard worker and loyal. You could tell his kids adored him and he was respected by them and adored them back. To see that in this cynical day and age, is heart warming and inspiring all on its own. However, this woman whom he considered "hot" and "sexy" and just about perfect, was SO distant in her movements, her eyes especially and I expected her to drop out of his life even faster than she did. She was on him about drinking, smoking, not doing this, not doing that....and not in a particularly sexy or hot manner....more cold than anything. It broke my heart when he said at the end of his part of the film that he knew he needed to "grow up." Huh? Because he smokes and drinks? He IS grown up, he is raising his kids, paying his bills and going to work, how grown up does he think he has to be? HE deserved better than that cold woman and I hope he finds a woman who deserves him as much as he would deserve her. It also had nothing to do with their age difference...and everything to do with her and her "not being into him" like he was into her...period. The old saying about Latin people being all hot and warm on the inside as well as out…most definitely didn't apply to this woman. Poor dad was a tad blinded by what he THOUGHT he saw in her. The movie itself, is wonderfully warm and open and not annoying in it's presentation. I would LOVE for a film to be based in another city other than New York. Just because there are a LOT of people there, does not particularly mean that the ones there correlate to people in California, Nebraska, Louisiana or Texas. Society in all other areas have a major influence on "love" and relationships...not bad or better, just different, just as New York and the surrounding areas influence relationships there. Lovely film and would suggest it to anyone interested in a Big City view of Love. And, wishing us ALL luck in love, in all our relationships. : ) So, please, no haters.
Lena Milan
What a delightfully funny & touching documentary, dealing with five different human stories. First it's shot in one of the most diverse and beautiful cities in the world, New York City. It's about Love, and all the chaos that may or may not ensue. These are human stories...everything from young to old love, straight & gay, American and other world cultures. These individuals, like you or I, are normal yet unique in their individual experiences. It goes to show that all situations, no matter how different in detail, are Universal in experience. I highly recommend it...for anyone and everyone! And please make sure to go with an open mind, and no expectations...allow the film to do it's thing. :)
