What a fabulous movie! I had no expectations, having missed the book somehow, so I just randomly picked this from On Demand and was blown away. It was darkly funny, with quirky well-acted character parts and some notably hilarious and quotable lines. I have already reserved the book at the library. One of the best films I’ve seen in a while.

I really wanted to like this movie. I’d heard good things about the book. But despite my best efforts, I could not identify with any of the characters – not one of them. Good acting (Bening & Clayburgh did their best) cannot make dysfunctional characters likeable. I felt no compassion for 15-yearold Augusten, the main character, whose smoking, class-cutting, self-pity, and vandalism can be explained as reactions to the insanity that surrounds him, but cannot be excused. He is a delinquent, and I could not trust or empathize with him as the narrator of the story. The “Hamburger Helper” revelation, a weak attempt at bringing a touch of normalcy to the incessant familial havoc, did NOT redeem the boy or the film. In short, I did not like this. I do not recommend it.

OK so this isn’t as great as the book, but people let’s focus here: Annette Benning’s performance as Deirdre Burroughs is fantastic; all feminist anger, 70s therapy speak and foul mouthed psychosis. It’s Benning’s film. End of.

Secondly, Jill Clayburgh as the ravaged Agnes Finch caught in the destructive undertow of her husband’s activities, is moving, comedic and melancholy.

This means that all the other great roles in the film can shine and shimmer like really cheap glittery disco eyeshadow.

Made with a true obsessive’s eye for period detail – all that hideous 70s furniture, polyester clothing and the Finch household almost crawling alive with dirt and junk and chaos – along with a killer soundtrack, makes this amusing trip into the darkside of the 70s Me Generation and the way it screwed up their kids, an absolute must.

You gotta admire the boy Augusten, for getting through it all.

I think the magic of the story was drained out of it when Augusten’s witty prose was no longer present. It wasn’t that the movie was bad, as a matter of fact the acting and casting was perfect, but overall it made this facinating story boring. They did successfully add another dimension to Agnes and Deidre’s character, but at the detriment of the complexities of some of the relationships, especially the one between Augusten and Bookman. The ceiling scene was done very well (though the screaming was a little off I thought) and the Freud scenes. Most of Diedre’s moments seemed to be the most interesting, especially when she met Augusten’s father in the restaurant.

Overall, I was disappointed and bored stiff except for occassional witty scene. It was the lack of being entertained that led me to the “Not Worth Consuming” conclusion.

Um. Not as good as the book. Kind of all over the place. Even though the cast is great, and the acting is also excellent, it seemed to me to be trying to squash too much in, and sort of suffered as a result. I don’t know. It would have been very hard to pull this off well… It’s not terrible. Maybe if you haven’t read the book it would seem better….

But it wasn’t. But that’s OK because Running With Scissors was a good movie anyway, if you like movies about disfunctional families.

The film’s set mostly in the late 1960s and the 1970s, and most of the details (music, fashion, cars, decor) rang true with me. Great acting, too.

having never read the book, I now have a desire to do so, I loved this film.

It showed that we all have potential to be a little bit crazy, that no matter how balanced we appear on the outside, we are all just a step away from chaos.

But then I think most of us know that anyway…

If you loved the book you’ll probably love this… if you haven’t read the book and/or you’re expecting a comedy then this probably won’t be your cup of tea.

(I’m personally waiting for ‘Dry’ to make it to film form!)