The Upside of Anger

written by Mike Binder

directed by Mike Binder

The lives of a mum (Terry) and her four daughters (Hadley, Andy, Emilly and Lavender) change dramatically when husband/dad suddenly disppears. Terry (Joan Allen) is so caught up in her anger at her husband who, apparently, has run off with his secretary, it spoils her relationship with her daughters. She turns to drink and becomes impossible to live with.

Neighbour Denny (Kevin Costner), former baseball star, decides he is going to barge into their lives. He invites himself over for meals, gives Andy (Erika Christensen) a job at the radio station where he is a dj, he seems to get on with Lavender (Evan Rachel Wood) very well too. He seems a strange character at first, drinking a lot and you get the feeling there is not much about him.

Introducing the story line makes it sound horribly cheesy and that is exactly like I felt. Tim and I sat down, not convinced by the film to begin with, and our fears were only confirmed in the next half an hour or so. Before this film, for me, Kevin Costner was only ever good in one film, Robin Hood, and that was when quite a bit smaller too!

Terry’s attitude become worse by the minute. She is so taken over by anger that she loses sight of the love the people around have for her. Though her relationship with Denny is quite weird and confusing to begin with and seems to be only about physical needs, he starts to really care for her and her girls. We find out more about him as a man and his gentle, patient and kind nature. He very much becomes the dad figure but it is not in a forced way. By giving the girls time, attention and love, he has earned their love too.

Terry, however, doesn’t see it. In her self-pity and bitterness she embarrasses Hadley (Alicia Witt) in front of her future in-laws and fiancee by drinking too much, she gives Andy’s boyfriend and earful and Lavender isn’t really there. Denny gets treated really badly by Terry and almost loses his patience.

Emily (Keri Russell) is a dancer, she loves ballet and wants to go to ballet school. Terry will not allow it and hurts her by disrespecting and crushing Emily’s dreams. Terry’s behaviour finally changes when Emily is taken to hospital, seriously ill. The whole family hit a point in life where they start to cherish the things that really matter. There is a turn around from hate to love, from pain to joy and from hurt to acceptance.

The film isn’t great but I did enjoy it. The story is told by Lavender who ‘is only a baby’. Her insight into the lives of her family is telling and I love the way she keeps reminding us that her mum is the most beautiful and kind person anyone could ever meet. The relationships between the daughters was acted out beautifully and their loyalty to mum showed through even in their anger and confusion.

The huge twist at the end of the film feels weird. It almost feels like the film was for nothing. The stuff the girls and Denny had gone through was all for nothing…