Rating: PG-13
Starring:
Diane Keaton as Daphne
Mandy Moore as Milly
Gabriel Macht as Johnny
Tom Everett Scott as Jason
Lauren Graham as Maggie
Piper Perabo as Mae
Stephen Collins as Joe
Ty Panitz as Lionel
Matt Champagne as Eli
Colin Ferguson as Derek
Tony Hale as Stuart
Special Features:
The Making of “Because I Said So” – Take an insider’s look at how the movie came to life!
Designing a Wilder World – Meet the creative team behind the sensational sets, fabulous clothes and decadent desserts designed for the Wilder women!
iVillage Pregnancy Ad
Music Video “World Spins Madly On” by the Weepies
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.85:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the official DVD description:
“Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton stars with Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham and Piper Perabo in this heartwarming comedy about mothers, daughters and cutting the apron strings. When it comes to her three free-spirited daughters, Daphne (Keaton) is just your normal overprotective, overbearing, over-the-top mother. Worried that her youngest daughter, Millie (Moore), will end up alone, Daphne meddles in her daughter’s love life until she ends up doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons…and all in the name of motherly love.”
“Because I Said So” is rated PG-13 for sexual content including dialogue, some mature thematic material and partial nudity.
The Movie:
I found “Because I Said So” rather painful to watch. Seeing a ‘helicopter mom’ and three daughters chattering, gossiping, and fighting for an hour and a half is not my idea of entertainment. Even more baffling were the scenes where they are laughing and getting along, then they immediately descend into a yelling match. This may be realistic, but it’s not fun to see (unless you like to be reassured that someone out there has a more dysfunctional relationship with their mother than you). There were also numerous scenes where the women are in their underwear together gossiping about sex. The gratuitous g-string shots were probably included for guys forced to see the movie by their girlfriends.
This movie is filled with annoying clichés. You have your standard “sing along” moment where the characters all sing and dance and have a cheesy happy moment together. This actually happens several times. Another cliché is the pretty girl who can’t find a man. It seems like someone like Mandy Moore would have plenty of guys lined up. The odds are there’s a good one in the bunch, so it’s a bit hard to buy her predicament in the film.
“Because I Said So” seems to have trouble finding the right tone. This is perfectly embodied in the performance of Diane Keaton. She attempts to do comedy and even slapstick physical comedy. However, the end result is a performance that’s so over the top that it’s annoying. This is contrasted by some dramatic scenes that don’t seem genuine at all. For example, in a scene where Keaton is conveniently hoarse and staying with Moore, she opens up about her ex-husband and past sex life. It induces more eye rolls than sympathy.
The Extras:
This DVD just has your basic bonus features:
The Making of “Because I Said So” This is your standard ‘making of’ video. It’s 8 minutes long and features all of the cast and crew in interviews. The male director also talks about what it’s like making a film by women for women.
Designing a Wilder World This featurette discusses the LA locations, the costumes, the wedding cakes, and other things associated with the look and feel of the film. It runs 5 minutes 36 seconds.
Music Video “World Spins Madly On” by the Weepies This is the song from the opening of the movie. It simply features clips from the film itself.
The Bottom Line:
This is a chick flick, plain and simple. I wouldn’t recommend this movie to any guys. Even women will probably find it clichéd and unfunny. You’re probably better off spending your time and money elsewhere.
