The Rebound (2009)

A mother in her 40's gets divorced and hires a guy in his 20's to be her babysitter. They both end up falling in love but the age difference feels like an obstacle for them.A pretty nice romantic comedy. The actors are great and fit well into their roles. There are some great jokes and also a lot of scenes where we can feel their emotions well. The insecurities Sandy feels about her boyfriend being so young are easy to understand. And even though one doesn't want them to break up one sees where she is coming from.But then we also get the beautiful ending that gives one a lot of happiness and hope.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I wasn't expecting to but I did. Sensitive and romantic with some funny parts. It is well worth a view. The feeling of loss and hurt rang true here. I actually shed a tear and laughed too. That in my mind makes it a bloody good film. Watch it and see for yourself. Yes it's a bit chick flick but it has more to it than the usual fare. It serves up emotion well and with skill. I loved it. Important to remember that it will not be your cup of tea if you don't like CHICK FLICKS as it does kind of have that going on. Yet it has the depth of a romantic novel too. It is enough to say fill a rainy afternoon and not regret watching it.

The Rebound was a very enjoyable and funny movie. The summary and poster suggested a slightly more erotic story than it actually is. It's more like a decent, above average and funny romantic comedy. Especially the children in the story and their expressions are hilarious. It's a very credible story about sexual tension and growing respect and love between two people from different age categories, something we see all around us in real life. It addresses issues like reactions from family and friends, especially in a less common situation of an older woman dating a younger guy, as this is often harshly judged by outsiders.So it's only logical Sandy's emotional response to this relationship is slightly over the top sometimes. Aram is clearly an adult. He's very mature for his age, is very good with her kids, very romantic and assertive enough to deal with all mockery. Aside from the shallow and often plain jealous reactions of others there's no reason whatsoever for her to stop this relationship. Still, the pressure of judgment becomes too much for her and she breaks up with him. Possibly, she also wants to make sure his love is not just an impulsive lustful crush that keeps him from fulfilling his youthful ambitions. Her irrational inhibitions towards this relationship remain until Aram has reached the age of thirty, has found a place and job of his own and has an adopted son. This is where the story ends with a whole range of possibilities.I thought this story was well-told, credible and funny. I shows how people easily judge what they know nothing about, like a 25-year-old dating an older woman. A lot of people give credence to the idea that maturity and age go hand-in-hand while there are numerous examples of people in their forties who keep acting like they're in puberty and adults who read Harry Potter who actually have a better sense of reality than those who don't. This movie gives a more complex take on relationships and concepts like maturity, trust and responsibility that leaves the solution or conclusion to the audience.

This movie was a pleasant surprise. It starts a little slow but it soon picks up steam. Justin Bartha was incredible and very believable. I am so glad to see him getting the lines and the billing he deserves. Catherine was magnificent as always. They appeared to have a great chemistry between them. The script and directing were very good. The kids, Sadie, Kelly Gould and Frank Jr. Andrew Cherry were very good. I am usually not a big fan of child actors but these two are real pros and add a lot to the movie. Finally, some supporting characters that deserve mention are Sandy's boss Laura, played by Lynn Whitfield and Aram's parents played by Art Garfunkel and Joanna Gleason. They played their roles wonderfully. I have watched this movie half a dozen times and it still charms me and makes me want to watch it again. I really love this movie.