First of all, the movie is so slow. It takes a while for the plot to really unfold. The bottom line about the story is a dysfunctional American family achieving harmony after a major tragedy. Well, how novel is that? Apart from a few witty lines here and there, mostly from the kids and teenagers in the flick, everything else is predictable.
Director Alexander Payne has a good track record - I like About Schmidt and the Oscar-award-winning Sideways. I also like his ex-wife Canadian actor Sandra Oh. For such a fine screenplay writer to come up with this movie just puzzles me. He's consistent with his style of focusing on adulterous relationships in married couples, but I don't like a predictable movie. I'm in the cinema to be wowed, surprised and entertained. The Descendants didn't accomplish any of that.
There's one saving grace for this movie - Shailene Woodley who plays Clooney's 17-year-old daughter is a good actress with a fresh, angelic face. There are also talks about Clooney getting an Oscar nomination for this role, but I really don't think that's going to happen. He's beginning to bug me immensely in both his private and professional lives lately. The whole emphasis on his handsome looks is really overdone. He's never a good actor because he always plays himself in all the movies.
What's most annoying about this film is the irritating Hawaiian-themed music throughout the movie. I guess it all depends on how much you like Hawaii - I can't stand the place, not to mention its music.
Call me prejudiced, but anything about cheesy Hawaii is just not for me!
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