The Upside of Anger

Mike Bender's suburban drama about a boozing housewife whose husband supposedly just ran off with his secretary leaving her to take care of her four strong willed daughters has moments of grace and charm, but not enough to sustain the movie. Kevin Costner possibly turns in his best performance as the equally boozy ex-baseball star, next door neighbor who seizes the opportunity to become romantically entagled with the recently singled Joan Allen. His is the most interesting character in the movie. Allen plays a very bitter and angry woman. If there is an upside to anger, the movie claims, then it is in our ability to use it to learn, grow, and move on. Many critics have called the ending a cheat, though I think it elevates the film to a level that wouldn't otherwise deserve. Much of our own anger and bitterness is based on misconceptions, not having all the facts, and merely because sometimes we like being angry, but the ending reminds us that life isn't always like that. It's a good movie, but far from great.