Life As a House

Shaping an entire story around one potent metaphysical metaphor, Life As a House overcomes many contrived and manipulative plot elements to prevail as a genuinely moving fable about a man building his dream house as he's dying of cancer. Whimsically earnest Kevin Kline stars along with Hayden Christensen (Star Wars' future Anakin Skywalker), who makes a strong impression as the angry, self-loathing punker son, forced to spend his summer helping with his dad's hair-brained construction project, unaware that their time together will be brief. Nagging problems vex the film, such as the fact that some characters exist only to drive a coincidence-filled subplot that director Irwin Winkler seems to feel is necessary for additional tension. But while conventional--even predictable--this is never maudlin or weepy as terminal illness movies are wont to be. A strong optional purchase. [Note: the "Platinum Series" DVD includes a scene-specfic commentary, two "making of" documentaries, and four deleted scenes.] (R. Blackwelder)