CLIPS MOVIE REVIEWS

by Roger Tennis

On CLIPS In February, 2012

THE DESCENDANTS

A Hawaiian land baron (George Clooney) tries to bond with his two daughters (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller) after his wife's boating accident.

TRIVIA: Shailene Woodley is best known as Amy Juergens on what popular TV series?

ROG'S VIEWPOINT
      (3 CAMS)        RATED R

Hawaiian land baron and lawyer Matt King (George Clooney) is under pressure to sell family land while his wife Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie) is on life support after a boating accident. Re-connecting with daughters Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie (Amara Miller), Matt learns that his wife was having an affair with real estate broker Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard). The dysfunctional family unites on a trip from Oahu to Kauai, where Elizabeth's lover lives with his wife (Judy Greer) and children. "The Descendants" is a leisurely-paced, but meandering, drama that is dominated by some strong performances. George Clooney and Shailene Woodley are outstanding in their depiction of a fractured relationship between father and daughter. Judy Greer nearly steals the show as a wife coming to grips with the fact that her husband had an affair. Director Alexander Payne guides his stellar cast through the occasionally heavy-handed dramatics. This film isn't as satisfying as other Payne efforts like "Sideways" and "Election". But there's still plenty to revel in. The lush Hawaiian scenery, beautifully photographed by Phedon Papamichael, provides spectacular background for the cast that also includes Robert Forster as Matt's father-in-law, Beau Bridges as his cousin Hugh and Nick Krause as Alexandra's boyfriend Sid. The soundtrack of Hawaiian music from several artists is pure pleasure. Inheriting a few of the finer qualities of past Alexander Payne films, this offspring almost meets expectations.