Revolting

Rating: 2/10 (3 February 2014)

I'm going to start with the aspect of this movie we all recognize but never talk about - the stereotype of the "Jewish-American princess" (JAP). Scarlett's character of Barbara Sugarman is the personification of every JAP joke, from her conservative sexual preferences to her controlling nature to her upwardly mobile ambitions. Yet despite that and having been given a Jewish- sounding name, which Jon's father even comments on, she is never specifically acknowledged as Jewish in the script. I don't have a problem with portraying stereotypes as long as it's done honestly, but here I think it was a case of doing it while stopping short of admitting it. Sorry, screenwriters, you can't have your PC and eat it too.
Having said that, my assessment of this movie is simply "revolting." How can we like a movie centered on a shallow man's overtly portrayed masturbation addiction? Its one saving grace is the always brilliant Julianne Moore's role as the breath of fresh air in this polluted story. I'm really amazed that Scarlett, who has always chosen her roles wisely in the past and now has her pick of them, would have agreed to do this one. It isn't as if she needed yet another Hot Chick role in her resume.
And the Catholic Church connection did nothing but make Jon's character more disgusting. As a movie, it's a well done realization of a story that I'd just as soon not see.