Two Weeks

In this sentimental weepie that tries to mix laughter and tears, Sally Field stars as Anita, a feisty North Carolina woman bedridden during the final stages of terminal ovarian cancer. Anita's four children from her first marriage (she lives with her second husband) arrive to witness the end—smart-aleck Hollywood screenwriter Keith (Ben Chaplin), driven businessman Barry (Tom Cavanagh) together with his wife and kids, weak Matthew (Glenn Howerton) and his shrewish wife (Clea Duvall), and intense Emily (Julianne Nicholson) who has shouldered the responsibility for their mother's care. Although Anita is only expected to live a few more days, the wait stretches into two weeks—plenty of time for bickering, bonding, reminiscences, recriminations, and reconciliation. Part of the mix here is a series of recollections from his dying mother filmed earlier by Keith, in which she responds to questions about the family's past in gruff but loving fashion. While there are occasional nuggets of honesty in all of this—writer-director Steve Stockman draws on his personal experience of losing his mother—too many scenes have a hollow, synthetic feel, and the characters never fully come alive. Two Weeks is a sincere film that tackles an important subject; unfortunately, it's just not a very good movie. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Steve Stockman and Dr. Ira Byock (president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine), a 24-minute “Learning to Live Through Dying” featurette, four deleted scenes (4 min.), a text group discussion guide, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a well-meaning but disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)