Imaginary Heroes Movie Review 2005

Painfully cliche-ridden story of a dysfunctional, angst-ridden suburban family. When her superjock son kills himself, Sandy (Weaver) descends into a weed-smoking haze while the rest of her family struggles to deal with Matt's death as well as their own problems. Drugs, anger, bisexual experimentation, eating disorders, and cancer scares ensue. Writer/director Harris piles on the plot twists and tragedies to remind you of how bad these people have it. Weaver and Hirsch (as younger son Tim) are convincing, but the film's combination of grief-stricken melodrama and wry irony is awkward and contrived, and the movie just ends up feeling like a cheap knock-off of many superior films.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on DVD
Running time 112 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, Family Drama, Suicide, Swimming, Strained Suburbia, Bad Dads, Teen Angst

Screenplay

Daniel P. "Dan" Harris

Cast

Sigourney Weaver, Emile Hirsch, Jeff Daniels, Michelle Williams, Kip Pardue, Deirdre O'Connell, Ryan Donowho, Jay Paulson, Suzanne Santo

Cinematography

Tim Orr

Director

Daniel P. "Dan" Harris

Music

John Ottman, Deborah Lurie

Other

Stuart Deutsch, James Lyons, Mila Khalevich, Heesoo Kim, Michael Wilkinson, Rick Butler

Producer

Illana Diamant, Gina Resnick, Denise Shaw, Art Linson, Frank Hubner, QI Quality Intl., Sony Pictures Classics