A Thousand Words (2012)
I remember seeing the preview to A Thousand Words. The studio chose the silliest moments from the movie and put them together to make it seem as kid-oriented as Doctor Dolittle. It didn’t get very good reviews, but since I’ve seen almost every Eddie Murphy movie, I dutifully went to the theaters during opening weekend. Whoever signed off on that preview was the person who condemned it to bad reviews – it’s actually a drama! This movie is not for children, which is probably why the reviewers didn’t know what to expect.
Eddie plays a literary agent willing to say anything to make a deal – not unusual in that profession. He’s not very present in his marriage to Kerry Washington, and he seems reluctant to be an active father – again, not unusual. But, fate smiles on him and gives him a second chance through a magical tree. The leaves on the tree are connected to Eddie’s words; the number of ones he speaks, the same amount of leaves fall from the tree. He’s supposed to learn his lesson about the meaning and power of his words before it’s too late and all the leaves fall down (because we know what that means), but will he? He has some pretty big issues to sort through, and not just with his marriage, fear of being a good father, and insincerity in his career. His mother, Ruby Dee has Alzheimer’s Disease and lives in a nursing home. I can’t believe she’s playing that part either, but then again, it has been fifty years since A Raisin in the Sun. Ruby has a terribly strained relationship with her son, and she’s constantly bringing up memories Eddie would rather suppress about his father. If you have issues with your parents, be sure to watch this movie with a box of Kleenex beside you. It’s very heavy.
But it’s also a great movie! I own a DVD copy, so I would recommend it if you’re in the mood for a good cry. This isn’t a movie to watch with your kids, no matter what the preview tries to make you think.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to adult subject matter, I would wait until my kids were in the double digits before they watch it.
More Eddie Murphy movies here!
Eddie plays a literary agent willing to say anything to make a deal – not unusual in that profession. He’s not very present in his marriage to Kerry Washington, and he seems reluctant to be an active father – again, not unusual. But, fate smiles on him and gives him a second chance through a magical tree. The leaves on the tree are connected to Eddie’s words; the number of ones he speaks, the same amount of leaves fall from the tree. He’s supposed to learn his lesson about the meaning and power of his words before it’s too late and all the leaves fall down (because we know what that means), but will he? He has some pretty big issues to sort through, and not just with his marriage, fear of being a good father, and insincerity in his career. His mother, Ruby Dee has Alzheimer’s Disease and lives in a nursing home. I can’t believe she’s playing that part either, but then again, it has been fifty years since A Raisin in the Sun. Ruby has a terribly strained relationship with her son, and she’s constantly bringing up memories Eddie would rather suppress about his father. If you have issues with your parents, be sure to watch this movie with a box of Kleenex beside you. It’s very heavy.
But it’s also a great movie! I own a DVD copy, so I would recommend it if you’re in the mood for a good cry. This isn’t a movie to watch with your kids, no matter what the preview tries to make you think.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to adult subject matter, I would wait until my kids were in the double digits before they watch it.
More Eddie Murphy movies here!