Inventing the Abbotts (1997)

With Dr. Manhattan and Jen, we are back to the iconic fifties, in a town between Hill Valley and Derry. The mood of those years is well done between the streets, the fashion, the cars and the houses. When they go to the country, it has the flavor of Smallville. Next, the brothers goes to campus and this is a period of life that i miss. The story is captivating because it's about brotherly relation and that speaks really to me as i have a brother. Maybe the two actors look a bit old for their parts but they have a real chemistry. It's strange to see Jen being the wild one and Tyler, the prude one because we expected the contrary but at the end, they are both excellent in their characters.

Pat O'Connor's coming of age period piece 'Inventing The Abbotts' tells the story of two brothers and the Abbott family from their point of view (even though Doug does the narrating). Most have described this as a romantic film but I see it more as a human drama about relationships and growing up in the 50s. It also works very well as a character-driven film and there's plenty of symbolism in Ken Hixon's screenplay, giving the film (in combination with the score and beautiful cinematography) a lyrical feel.'Inventing The Abbotts' boasts of a wonderful ensemble. The Abbott sisters are played by beauties Jennifer Connelly, Joanna Going and Liv Tyler while the Holt brothers are played by Billy Crudup and Joaquin Phoenix. Tyler does a decent job while the rest of the actors are excellently cast. Phoenix portrays Doug's recklessness, frivolity and growth with conviction while Crudup demonstrates Jacey's obsession and resentment with élan. Connelly (as the wild and tragic sister), Baker (as the quiet, strong and fragile mother), Patton (the ruthless father) and Going (the doomed sister) are superb.O'Connor has successfully captured the look of the 50s and 60s. The art direction is splendid. There are some beautiful shots of breathtaking landscape.In the end, 'Inventing The Abbotts' is a very human story. It stresses on human flaws, the perception of them and how it can lead to ones destruction and how 'loving no matter what' can help overcome any obstacle.

"In this classic coming-of-age tale, forbidden love and impossible dreams intertwine when the handsome, working class Holt brothers are drawn to the beautiful and wealthy Abbott sisters. With an all-star cast including Liv Tyler, Joaquin Phoenix, and Billy Crudup, 'Inventing the Abbotts' is," according to the DVD sleeve, a strongly told story "of hidden desires and romantic possibilities." Adding Jennifer Connelly and Joanna Going as the other two beautiful Abbott sisters gives you five good-looking performers engaged in various couplings. You will see that their "hidden desires" are all made fairly obvious. The film begins in 1957 small town Haley, Illinois, and has many obvious - but nice - period trappings. Ms. Connelly has an arousing topless scene.The story stresses the pairing of Mr. Phoenix (as Doug) and Ms. Tyler (as Pam), although Mr. Crudup (as Jacey) manages to steal most of the booty (both the film and the women). The "leads" suffer from being cast as teenagers. Doing the math (Phoenix is two years younger than high school senior Crudup) helps explain how they act. A fifteen-year-old would paint on "artificial sideburns" with India Ink while humming Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". So, Phoenix is made to act unnaturally juvenile. As the most beautifully cast sisters, Ms. Going and Ms. Connelly excel in their smaller roles. You can also enjoy both Crudup's angst-ridden older brother, and secretive mother Kathy Baker (as Helen).****** Inventing the Abbotts (4/4/97) Pat O'Connor ~ Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Crudup, Liv Tyler, Kathy Baker

...that will survive in the collective unconsciousness as a snapshot of four rising young stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly and Billy Crudup, all of whom have continued building solid resumés over the past decade. Along with able support from reliable character actors Kathy Baker, Will Patton, Joanna Goings, and Barbara Williams, the young leads anchor a period piece that often veers dangerously close to soap opera, yet manages to avoid most of the pitfalls of same. Phoenix and Tyler, in particular, delineate a relationship that seems to falter over the years and then blossoms into fruition by film's end, and do it in such a way that seems completely unforced and natural. No doubt their off-screen romance had much to do with that.At any rate, though not as poignant or well-crafted a film as, for instance, Nick Cassavetes' "The Notebook," "Inventing the Abbotts" still manages to pull most of the right strings with its "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl" storyline. Phoenix and Tyler have a great chemistry, as many have noted, and deliver the requisite eye-candy along with their co-stars, Connelly and Crudup. Phoenix is the most successful at playing younger than his true age, although that advantage lessens as the movie progresses chronologically. Connelly does a fine job as the sexpot, generously providing the "titties and beaver" such films so often deliver for the sake of an "R" rating. Crudup plays the cad with a grudge, redeemed when he finally discovers his initial mistaken assumptions.The tech aspects are all solid, especially the superb production design and art direction. The cinematography is capable, if unextraordinary. Pat O'Connor's direction is also capable, though not as impressive as his preceding project, "Circle of Friends." Viewing this film, though, has motivated me to insert "Dancing at Lughnasa" into my stack of pending DVDs to watch.I'll probably never watch "Inventing the Abbotts" again, but I have no real regrets having spent several hours doing so once. If nothing else, it's as good a Valentine's Day movie to see as any I can think of.