Lester-a likable guy?

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2010)

As many many people might expect according to the heading, my criticism could deal with a popular, successful man called Lester Burnham in his mid-forties, who takes care of his family living in a typical single family house in a residential suburban area in America. But this is not true.
Lester realizes all of a sudden that he is trapped in routine and boredom and thus decides to change that. He quits his job, sells his car to purchase the car he dreamed of as an adolescent. Besides he restarts to smoke pot which he gets hold of from Ricky, his daughter's future boyfriend. Meanwhile he is having erotic daydreams about his daughter's friend Angela. His wife Carolyn cannot voice anything but a good deal of misunderstanding when observing the changes he undergoes. But she changes as well; she is frustrated and starts an affair with a fellow real estate agent which helps her cope with Lester's metamorphosis. So far so good. Mendes succeeds in adding hilarious dialogues supported by well chosen field sizes that make us feel with Lester. Lester modifies his views of life in a way which seems to be childish and immature. But above all he teaches a little lesson in life: to rediscover beauty in trivial things and to be grateful of enjoyable moments in life. This makes him a likable character even though he must pay a high price.