Serious Moonlight (2009)

We find Meg Ryan, who has never looked hotter, lowering herself and losing all dignity to keep a not-so-hot husband who has been cheating on her and who happens to speak and act like a teenager. This alleged comedy contains such humorous ingredients as bondage, torture, brutality, and sexual assault. There is even a scene where a goldfish bowl is smashed onto the floor,with the poor fish flopping about (what..they couldn't have used a rubber prop fish?). The dialog is so unrealistic and the acting so poor that I just couldn't finish watching this self-indulgent exercise in immature drivel.The movie was very disturbing,not so much as you were watching something unrealistic and not so much as you witnessed brutality and sexual molestation, but that it was intended to actually have been funny.

Note to Justin Long: Dear Justin, I remember when you got started on "Ed" on television. I thought you had something, and still do. You've made some decent films (e.g., "He's Just Not That Into You"). And some stinkers...a few too many to mention...and that's true of this film. Let's be honest, as good an actor as you are, you're not the matinée movie idol type. So, to build your career, you have to be a bit selective as to parts you take on. In 2009, the year this movie was made, you made 10 movies...and a couple were pretty good. I've forgotten now which film it was that turned me off because from beginning to end it was just one long dialog with 4 letter words. And that's my point -- too many of your movies are forgotten already. And here's another one. In "Serious Moonlight" you have little screen time, and most of the time you're on screen you have a handkerchief masking your face. Your character never develops his character...at all. That's not too memorable. Why did you choose the role? I can't figure it out...and apparently few others could either since the film made less than $147,000 worldwide. Yes, Justin, when some pics are making way in excess of $147 million, your film made less than one-tenth of that. It lost money. And deservedly so. I like seeing you on screen, but I won't pay for a ticket to see a lot of the flops you're in. I guess it's just for a fast buck, huh? Now, in terms of the rest of this film. I really like Meg Ryan, and Timothy Hutton is okay. But I'm not sure a film where one of the stars is duct-taped into a chair or onto a toilet for nearly the entire 84 minutes is going to be very compelling. Especially when the other star is duct-taped for about a third of the film. Feels too much like a one-set stage play. And not a very interesting one, either. Yak, yak, yak, yak. Yawn. It had potential as a dark comedy...but that potential remained unfulfilled.Thumbs down.

I feel that 'Serious Moonlight' is a misunderstood movie. People seem to be under the impression that it's just another 'French Kiss' (mostly because of the misleading trailer). The similarities are minimal. The references (perhaps unintentional) are quite amusing but it must be said that 'Serious Moonlight' is no romantic comedy. It's more of a black comedy about a couple going through a stale marriage that is on the brink of breaking point. When the husband announces that he's leaving his wife for a twinkie, in a final desperate attempt the wife tries to win him back. However, she doesn't follow him all the way to Paris (which is what happened in 'French Kiss'). She ties him up, with duct tape, in their farm house.Unlike the kind of humour that's often used in a romantic comedies 'Serious Moonlight' is a lot more tongue in cheek and even dark at times. Cheryl Hines, who's already known for her comedic talents, proves to be a competent director and with the late Adrienne Shelly's funny and yet thought-provoking screenplay, she has made something entertaining. I found most of the dialogues laugh-out-loud funny.Timothy Hutton finally gets a part that's just right for him as he does full justice to Ian. Meg Ryan looks great and she's superb as the almost insane Louise. Justin Long and Kristen Bell provide hilarious support.The twist in the end was cleverly done and works as a good conclusion with a funny touch.

Horrible.There are just no words to express how bad this movie was. It was a complete waste of money, time, and effort. I'm shocked that something this bad was filmed in the first place.Meg Ryan is a mess. I'm not a fan, or a hater. But all throughout the movie I just couldn't believe that an actress would do that to herself. Her acting is sloppy, her facial expressions are annoying (not cute), and her attempt to salvage her career in a Anistonesque RomCom is just pathetic. I just can't express how irritating she was. She was more annoying than Kristen Bell, and that's saying something. The plot line and filming are atrocious. The interactions of all the parties involved are insincere or just plain weird (The fake cat fight). There is little (or no) continuity in any of the initial set-ups of the movie (Ryan is initially presented as a hardworking, romantic woman. She quickly transcends into a head case that ties her husband to the toilet and feeds him cookies. Oh, then she returns to being the romantic, stable woman who tries to salvage her relationship with the husband.) Out of the two people I saw this movie with, one of them actually enjoyed it, and one of them slept through the whole thing. Well, not the whole thing, just when it got really boring (about 2 minutes in).If you're a Meg Ryan fan and want to stay a Meg Ryan fan, don't watch it.If you're everyone else, still don't watch it.