Good entertainment - but the "acres of meaning" passed me by!

Rating: 7/10 (6 October 2004)

A Suburban Joe enters a mid-life crisis which involves quitting his well-paid job and starting an affair with a teenage girl.
We all know that real tragedy is usually some medieval king deciding if he should wage war or make peace on his neighbour. A million miles away from the safe American suburbs where nothing actually happens - or does it?
While the acting here is first class and the story is a bit witty and a bit kinky, I think people are going a bit overboard about it. Best Picture Oscar? Well that shocked me more than the film itself!
Mid life crisis is one thing, but Spacey takes it to a Spinal Tap like "11" and then some. This should be a slapstick comedy really, but it takes a dark turning for reasons that I don't fully understand. Maybe this is what makes it such a critical winner - give 'em enough murk and they can see anything. People that are well fed, safe and healthy can be tragedies too?
I almost want to crib other people's reviews on this one. I enjoyed it, sure, but where is the depth? What are people really enjoying here? What are the key points being made?
Is it - as I suspect - people having safe, but boring, lives and looking on this movie as what would happen if they cut lose and went a little crazy themselves. But are very unlikely to do so. Does this film contain some kind of hidden suburban fantasy that I don't share?
Is this film anti-monogamy? Or am I seeing things in the shadows and mist? Being single I have often viewed marriage as being a little boring - and the thought of a sexless marriage sends shivers down my spine. A personal view only, for all you married folk!
Yes - liked it, but its classic status has to be explained to me more clearly. This is an urban black comedy and a bit different from the norm, but that alone doesn't make it all that special.