Hanging Up (2000)

You've got to admire a movie that embraces womanhood as so few mainstream movies do, and Hanging Up deserves credit for combining issues of sisterhood and elderly parent care while relying on neuroses to carry its unconventional plot. But you've also got to lament this botched "dramedy" from screenwriting sisters Nora and Delia Ephron (adapting the latter's novel) and director Diane Keaton, who lack a coherent plan for illuminating their trio of female siblings. Despite a sharp focus on Meg Ryan as the middle sister Eve--a capable Los Angeles event planner--the movie never quite seems to know where it's going, and you feel like the best scenes are merely happy accidents. In exploring the foibles of family, Keaton fared better with her earlier film Unstrung Heroes.

In addition to directing, Keaton plays the eldest sister Georgia, a celebrity magazine editor, and Lisa Kudrow is kid sister Maddy, a soap-opera actress who's nearly as self-absorbed as Georgia. They leave it to Eve to care for their declining father (Walter Matthau), a retired screenwriter who slips in and out of lucidity and is, at best, a cantankerous curmudgeon whose estranged wife (Cloris Leachman) has long since severed all family ties. This is potent material--at least it could have been--and Ryan admirably struggles to hold the film together. But it's ultimately a losing battle as the movie, so full of cell phones and disconnected people (hence the title), becomes disconnected itself, offering hollow humor and a few memorable moments with characters whose problems are too minimal to worry about. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Hanging Up dvd

This is classic Keaton and Ryan, study of realtionship between alcoholic ailing dad and daughters, funny and sad. Definitely a keeper in my dvd library! August 7, 2008

Tries...but misses

With this cast, I really anticipated this film to be interesting and funny. It made an attempt, but it failed. Most of the characters are self-absorbed. The story is weak. The only funny part is how the boy laughs--my son is going through that stage right now, too. However, that certainly is not enough on which to base a movie.

The acting by some of the cast is good. It is a waste of the talent that was in the movie. As much as I would like to, I just can't recommend this movie. November 12, 2007

It's not that bad!

Hanging Up has gotten some horrible reviews but I think this film is quite good. Starring Meg Ryan, Lisa Kudrow, and Diane Keaton who also directs this film, is the story of three sisters who are very different from each other but unite and ultimately let go of some old age resentment through their father's illness. Ryan owns this film, she carries every scene and I think her dramatic side as an actress never gets the credit she fully deserves. Some of the scenes are a bit wacky but underneath is a warm and engaging family drama/comedy. September 20, 2007

Please sort by lowest ratings first... that's the real deal

I must have read only the latest reviews which gave this movie high ratings is the only explanation I can think of as to why I rented it. I agree with all the low raters. Please do not waste your time as I did mine. Thankfully, I had enough sense to stop watching it halfway through and so didn't waste my whole evening but even still I felt I had been robbed. Pure junk. Nothing whatsoever redeeming. I usually like Meg Ryan and Diane Keaton but I just found myself feeling totally irritated with both of their performances. April 25, 2007

going thru the experience

this really hit the spot with all true emotions. i went thru this with my mom and the emotional and physical caretaking can be so overwhelming and depressing and yet so rewarding. this should be seen in the begiining of a caregtaking task for everyone. the ups and downs and reponsiblity of the whole thing. i could relate to the whole challenge and the whole movie. now i am going thru it with my dad for his loss etc. April 15, 2007

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