Life During Wartime

Movie Summary of Life During Wartime By Michael The Moviegoer

LIFE DURING WARTIME = zero stars

“Casualties Of War”

In 1998, Todd Solondz made a brilliantly edgy slice of indie cinema called “Happiness” in which nobody was even close to being happy. Dysfunctional relationships and sexual frustration infected every character. The performances were daring. The final scene one of the greatest ever. I thought Solondz was some kind of genius. Until now.

More than 10 years later, Solondz’s latest film, “Life During Wartime”, is a sequel to “Happiness” with the original cast entirely replaced by new actors. Hey, James Bond and Batman did that!!!!

If you haven’t seen “Happiness”, there’s no point in reading any further because “Life During Wartime” is definitely not for you. If you’re a fan of “Happiness” I’m sorry to say that “Life During Wartime” is definitely not for you.

But if you’re interested, here’s the scorecard. In the new film, Paul Reubens plays the ghost of Andy (Jon Lovitz in the first film), Ciaran Hinds takes over Dylan Baker’s pedophile dad. Lara Flynn Boyle becomes Ally Sheedy who has tattoos on her arm and is dating Keanu Reeves (who is not in the film)! Allison Janney steps into Cynthia Stevenson’s shoes. And Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character is now a black man played by Michael Kenneth Williams. At least both actors each have three names!

What seemed original, daring and edgy in 1998, now seems like Solondz’s obsessively sick and twisted fantasy. The film is filled with uncomfortablly frank conversations between adults and children. I felt embarrassed for Allison Janney having to do a scene with a 12-year old boy in which she explains to him how she “got wet” when a man touched her.

Sadly, Solondz seems to find pleasure in discussing the anal rape of young boys between adult and child actors. I felt gross watching this movie. I began to feel that Solondz himself might actually be a danger to society. Somebody should get this guy into therapy quick.

DVD Double Feature: Unfortunately my experience with this sequel has forever tainted my view of the 1998 film “Happiness”, once a favorite of mine. Now, I see it as a director’s perverse pleasure. But if you haven’t seen “Happiness”, that’s the film to see before “Life During Wartime”.

Michael The Moviegoer

Life During Wartime (UK import, Region 2 PAL format)