The Lifeguard

Well, aside from adressing my inner pervert, making me wish i'd be 16 again and able to bang an attractive 29-year old, it spoke to an existential pain i'm harboring. Being a drifter, out of place, aim- and useless in a way most people won't be able to relate to...and being unable to bang an attractive 29-year old.

Every review I've read about this is basically people hating on it because of their own morals. They throw criticisms like "poor script" around but it's not a poor script. It's good and the characters are decently fleshed out. Reviewers feel uncomfortable with the romance because it's a 29 year old and a teenager. They judge the characters without realizing that these "cliches" exist, the troubled kid who skateboards exist. The movie isn't groundbreaking, but it's a good hour and a half.

I've seen/read enough stories like this to know that one of the primary criticisms against it is going to be basically: existential problems are off limits for white people or anyone raised in a first world country. White people aren't allowed to experience anguish unless a family member has cancer, or some such shit. However, I don't think it takes much more than a modicum of empathy to realize that that's just wrong. Solidly conventional writing, yet dense. A movie of well drawn characters.

Veronica Mars tries to get her life back together, instead gets railed by a high school student. Thought provoking stuff.

I think this is a movie about a grown woman coming of age by banging a child. I think that because that's what it is. Did we not all watch American Beauty? Doesn't he quit his job and start working fast food while also trying to bang a child? How many movies do I need to watch like this? Anyways, I still enjoyed it. I'm an idiot.

(Viewed on 22/06/14): The Lifeguard takes a serious and timely subject--the refusal/reluctance to grow up according to society's standards--and does absolutely nothing with it. It tries to make some kind of feminist statement about how women are too readily shoved into the domestic role but offers us a paltry piece of navel gazing fluff with aimless and self absorbed female characters who, quite frankly, would have probably been better off married with children.

Builds up an interesting conflict in the form of an unusual relationship, but ultimately can't resolve it in a satisfactory manor. Other than that it's a typical indie film to the point of boredom.

The best part of this movie was Kristen Bell's acting. She displayed a wide range of emotions. All of the supporting cast did well. There were funny scenes and sad scenes, but as a whole the movie didn't come together in a satisfying way. Most of the characters were not likeable and I kept having feelings of frustration and anger. I felt sorry for her dad. Dealing with her shitty mother and friends while trying to find herself is what makes me lose faith in humanity.

It's about how, as Abbie Hoffman once said, nostalgia is a form of depression. It's about how, as Jason's dad says near the end, you need to just keep moving forward. It's about Kristen Bell in a bathing suit for the majority of the film. I really like and agree with everything this movie's about. Particularly that last bit.

A backwards coming of age film where Kristen Bell decides to drop everything responsible in life that she is doing and reverts back to her high school life and being a total loser who works at a pool. I feel like I saw this movie earlier in a film called "Hello, I Must Be Going" so this didn't bring much to the table. Mamie Gummer's performance was probably my favorite and even though I love Bell, I kind of wanted to shake some sense into her since she was so dumb. Not a very good film.

"The film heroically stretches out its governing water metaphor to a point that allows it to best Garden State's Guinness World Record for most incessant navel-gazing." - Ed Gonzalez

I think I'm just beginning to realize that I hate coming of age movies. It's as if I just realized I'm gay. All of these feelings I've had... everything makes so much sense now....

Nice...!??

What at first seems like a fairly annoying aggressively indy movie about ennui turns pretty morally repugnant midway through, and I very rarely say that about a movie. While the relationship is not treated totally positively, it's not treated nearly negatively enough. Kristen Bell is one of the most likable Hollywood actresses and gives it her all here, so it speaks volumes that her character is one of the most unlikable, intolerable characters in years. I hate, hate, hated this.

Selfish but relatable characters. Almost ruined The Graduate for me once I thought some more about gender reversal and the age difference. The gay friend putting on the moves on the boy highlights the issue. Though it's really not a bad film as long as you don't need a character to root for. I liked the side plot of the friend trying to get pregnant. Could have made things harder for Bell's character for more realism. Fav scene: sitting around reading the yearbook reminiscing on life.

2

okay movie

It tries so hard to be "indie", whatever that might be, and is so naive it almost grows on you. But ultimately, the film making is just too amateurish. And for just a bit of casual objectification, Kristen Bell is delightful. Add a few inches, and there would be no stopping her.

Bad soundtrack.

Feminist bitches (as they call themselves) are flooding Sundance with their dull, fucked-up movies. This film is a variation on 30 year olds coming of age, but the plot misses some crucial points, like third act when the protagonist learns something before growing up and going on with their life, with the uplifting indie rock song playing in the background. The soundtrack, a tireless torrent of generic alt-radio songs, is a finishing blow to already staggering film.

Really dull indie drama, like the cast and crew were as mopey as the characters in it.

Such deep emotions Kristen.

I like the premise. I like that the film is unconventional in a lot of ways, including the romance. But it's just so... unremarkable.

Great film! Lesson Learned: can't run away from your problems. You must face them.

Unfortunately good acting is not enough to support a film. There needs to be story, and events that occur more often than once every half hour.

yes ok, quite intersting theme actually

I appreciate any defense of being lost & fucked up & this fresh & energetically acted character ensemble piece is both clear-eyed & non-judgemental. So it doesn't surprise me that people hate it. All the characters maintain their dignity, and continue loving each other, even when they make bad, silly or stupid choices. The drama is weakened by a burdensome indie rock soundtrack but that's the worst thing I can say about it. That last shot, an honest request for empathy -- we never get those.

Dialogues killed me