Well.... I expected the worst.... but it was not that bad at all! It is perhaps a bit too polished, too clean. To my taste the film could have dealt with a bit more realism and also a little bit of adult 'umpf'. The woman experiences love, but sexuality is totally invisible. Except for the Australian guy naked at the beach, who gets ditched by Miss Liz (lots of male viewers will be irritated by this: the man is giving himself to this woman but she ignores him (probably because it would be a sexual fling only). The male viewers will most likely feel irritated and 'substitutely ignored' throughout the whole movie because she is drawing her own plan without paying any attention to the men close to her). Furthermore I can imagine this movie is not working for traditionalistic people. Nor for practicing Christians, Scientoligists, Jews, Muslims or whatever. The movie, therefor is a bit too much about shopping for spirituality. She ignores all monotheistic religions and thus denying the existence of one God (I can see people thinking, or unconsciously feeling about this: 'Are we, is our culture not good enough for you?') And it is also about a woman taking her own path: breaking with traditional expectations, not knowing what she wants in life but she wants to experience 'the world', life 'out there'. Which is also difficult to digest for people who think she had the perfect life. They just will not be able to relate to her.
So... it is not an award winning movie, but it is rather entertaining and it is softly trying to be spiritual. Albeit that the (non sexual, or invisible sexual) romance dominates above the spiritual message.
The movie is a bit on the soft side though: without raw, real emotions. And another note: the characters operate all in humid warm environments, but their hair stays too shampooed, and the clothes too ironed.
Go see it when you are in a romantic mood, on a summers evening. On a winter evening with candles and wine. Or when you are planning to go on a holiday or when you want to go on that big adventure. You can watch it with your kids though. Or after a Shrek movie or so, when the kids are put to bed and when it is mum time. (Although I as a man also felt entertained).
Do not expect spiritual enlightenment. Expect innocent sweet romance.
So... it is not an award winning movie, but it is rather entertaining and it is softly trying to be spiritual. Albeit that the (non sexual, or invisible sexual) romance dominates above the spiritual message.
The movie is a bit on the soft side though: without raw, real emotions. And another note: the characters operate all in humid warm environments, but their hair stays too shampooed, and the clothes too ironed.
Go see it when you are in a romantic mood, on a summers evening. On a winter evening with candles and wine. Or when you are planning to go on a holiday or when you want to go on that big adventure. You can watch it with your kids though. Or after a Shrek movie or so, when the kids are put to bed and when it is mum time. (Although I as a man also felt entertained).
Do not expect spiritual enlightenment. Expect innocent sweet romance.