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Chernin Entertainment
The Weinstein Company
Not part of a collection.
With neighbors like these, who needs family?
A young boy whose parents just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic, war veteran who lives next door.
Peter McGinn
Sep 15, 2022 · via TMDB
i had watched this years ago, and upon watching it again recently, I was surprised to see that it features Melissa McCarthy. I must not have been as familiar with her special comedic skills then as I am now or I would have remembered. This is one of my favorite quiet films. It ends up as a feel good movie — one of those where a large group of people appreciate someone at the end. Like anything from the Alan King character in Memories of Me (at his funeral!) to the exceedingly less likable Al Pacino jerk in Scent of a Woman. I believe the Vin character would be less likable himself in the hands of many actors. I have been pleasantly surprised at Bill Murray’s acting curve since Saturday Night Live. He brings bits of himself into most roles, I think, but he is great at subtle gestures, tone of voice, pausing for effect, and other tools of acting. He reminds me of Mark Ryland, who also makes acting look easy. I actually feel sure that Murray’s totally improvised the final scene during the end credits where he waters a plant and everything else in his back yard. I like that the movie doesn’t take shallow, cheap shots at people like it could. Even the cheating, divorcing dad is given a more positive spin before we are done. The four main actors are terrific here, and the two child actors who play Oliver and the bully are great also. As a side note, I saw a statistical oddity on a certain review site name after a rotten vegetable (or fruit, depending upon who you ask), as this is the only movie I have looked up that has the exact same rating by both the critics and the audience (78). That sounds about right to me, too. And speaking of credits, I really need to try to stop wincing when I see The Weinsteins listed in the opening credits.
Kamurai
Feb 24, 2021 · via TMDB
Great watch, would watch again, and do recommend. Any movie that gets me to well up with tears is an automatic winner in my book. I always wanted to see Bill Murray play a grumpy old man, and this movie is a little more "About a Boy" than "Up!", but it's a good middle ground between the two. There is something wholesome, even when it's specifically not, about a kid being taught life lessons by someone. It's something special that I feel like I haven't see enough of, and I'd love to do myself. It's also interesting to see a coming of age story that doesn't revolve around the character coming of age and a romance. It is possible to grow up without focusing on sex, it's like a reverse Bechdel test. This is completely worth the watch, and the movie does a great job of embodying it's own message of being rough on the outside with goodness on the inside.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Bill Murray
Vincent MacKenna
Melissa McCarthy
Maggie Bronstein
Jaeden Martell
Oliver Bronstein
Naomi Watts
Daka Parimova
Chris O'Dowd
Brother Geraghty
Terrence Howard
Zucko
Scott Adsit
David
Lenny Venito
Coach Mitchell
Nate Corddry
Terry
Dario Barosso
Robert Ocinski
Kimberly Quinn
Ana
Donna Mitchell
Sandy
Ann Dowd
Shirley
Reg E. Cathey
Gus
Deirdre O'Connell
Linda
Ray Iannicelli
Roger
Greta Lee
Teller #23
Maria Elena Ramirez
Amelda
Ron McLarty
Principal O'Brien
Niles Fitch
Brooklyn
David Iacono
Jeremiah
Gabe Hernandez
Latin Mover
Melanie Nicholls-King
Hospital Supervisor
Maria-Christina Oliveras
Medical Receptionist
James Andrew O'Connor
Antwan, Zucko's Partner
Brian Berrebbi
Process Server
Brenda Wehle
Judge Reynolds
Frank Wood
Maggie's Attorney
Orlagh Cassidy
Speech Therapist
Kerry Flanagan
CT Scan Nurse
Katharina Damm
Starlet, the Dancer
Jeff Bowser
Physical Therapist
Amber Clayton
Amber, the Waitress
Tim Wilson
Priest at Assembly
J. Elaine Marcos
Nurse
Josh Elliott Pickel
Student (uncredited)
Inbal Weinberg
Production Design
John Lindley
Director of Photography
Kasia Walicka Maimone
Costume Design
Morag Ross
Hairstylist
Kyra Panchenko
Makeup Artist
Morag Ross
Makeup Artist
Mike Marino
Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Michael Fontaine
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Theodore Melfi
Director
Sarah Flack
Editor
Kimberly Quinn
Associate Producer
Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer
Don Cheadle
Executive Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
Fred Roos
Producer
Jenno Topping
Producer
Peter Chernin
Producer
Theodore Melfi
Producer
Theodore Shapiro
Original Music Composer
Ed Novick
Sound
Randall Balsmeyer
Visual Effects Supervisor
Theodore Melfi
Screenplay
Oct 24, 2014
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Piker's Peak
1957
WRITER'S BLOCK
2023
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Top Gun: Maverick
2022 · 11 wins
Joker
2019 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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