REVIEW: Labor Day

It’s hard to picture Josh Brolin anything but creepy after his performance in “Old Boy”. Labor Day, directed by Jason Reitman, is based on a novel by Joyce Maynard that tells a story about a divorced single mother named Adele (Kate Winslet) and her only son Henry (Gattlin Griffith, also heard by now-adult Tobey McGuire in the voiceovers). Adele has been going through depression when she and her husband, played by Clark Gregg, get divorced. It emphasizes the toll it takes on the children involved in separations such as the one portrayed in Labor Day. The more the story goes on, the more the audience starts to understand the devastating reason as to why Adele is suffering. The title ties in to the plot very much so when it is revealed.

Adele and Henry go shopping one afternoon and Henry encounters a bloodied man demanding for a ride. The man introduces himself as Frank (Josh Brolin), and convinces Adele to unwillingly drive her to her house. He makes himself at home, a complete stranger, and then reveals that he has escaped prison for the murder of his wife and son. I know what you’re probably thinking, “Why didn’t she call the cops?”. This isn’t your everyday convict. He becomes a father figure to Henry and somehow along the way Adele falls in love with him, in just a short 5 day period. Why wouldn’t she? She has been depressed and alone for a very long time, much of Henry’s life, and to jump at the first opportunity to having a man in the house seems convenient and plausible to her in every way. The film takes us to what seems like a Pillsbury commercial for baking the best peach pie. Frank teaches Adele and Henry to make the appealing dessert and bonds with his “second family” more. I am not a pie eater myself but I cannot deny that I didn’t crave any after I left the theatre.

Labor Day is a movie to go to when you want a pick-me-up or hope for yourself. It gives you mentality of “things will get better, no matter the obstacles or people involved (even if they are criminals and have known them for 5 days, what the hey!)”. It also brings up a lot of validity to children who are victims of divorce. Is it a must see? Maybe not, but then again, I would suggest going in with no expectations at all and maybe you would enjoy the film a bit more, and if you don’t, prepare yourself to buy a piece of pie afterwards because there is no way you’ll look at one the same ever again!

Labor Day is out in theatres now. Check out the trailer below

Special thanks to Mr Will Wong for the screening passes.

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