THE HOLLARS (2016)
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2016 David N. Butterworth

**1/2 (out of ****)

Most of the principal cast of NBC's long-running series "The Office" wound
up directing an episode or two, including John Krasinski, who played
perennial nice guy Jim Halpert (Krasinski actually directed three episodes: "Sabre," "Lotto," and "The Boat"). For his directorial feature film debut,
the likeable actor bravely tackled a David Foster Wallace
adaptation--2009's "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men"--but the film's
critical reception was lukewarm at best. Not discouraged, Krasinski is
back behind the camera--as well as in front of it--with "The Hollars," a dysfunctional family drama that follows aspiring graphic novelist John
Hollar (Krasinski) as he returns home from the Big City to his
middle-American roots when his mother (Margo Martindale) is hospitalized
after a seizure and requires a brain op. Krasinski has elicited some fine performances for his sophomore project, including the ever-reliable
Martindale, Richard Jenkins as his blubbery father, and Sharlto Copley (the Neill Blomkamp films) as his older brother, Ron. Also assembled are Anna Kendrick, Charlie Day, Josh Groban, and Randall Park, with Mary Kay Place
and Mary Elizabeth Winstead relegated to brief individual scenes.
Krasinski's direction is surefooted but Jim Strouse's script lacks
consistency, with surprising moments of tenderness butting up against
scenes dripping with saccharine sentimentality (tire swing, anyone?). As a result, the novice director winds up serving lukewarm seconds.

--
David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews
butterworthdavidn@gmail.com

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