'Men, Women & Children' Movie Review & Trailer: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner Can't Save Movie

By Francisco Salazar Oct 01 2014, 15:38 PM EDT

Internet, anorexia, fame hunting, video games, pornography, infidelity and sex are among the many topics Jason Reitman explores in his latest hyperlink film, "Men, Women & Children."

Based on the Chad Kultgen novel, Reitman's latest endeavor is delivered with honesty but ultimately falls flat due to its messy structure and lack of focus.

The film tells the story a group of high school teenagers and their parents' attempt to navigate the many ways the Internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image and their love lives. There are many stories in this film. but none of them get the same attention as Tim Mooney (Ansel Elgort) and Brandy Beltmeyer's story. Tim is a depressed teen whose mother just left; he's taken refuge in video games and decided quit the football team. His relationship with his father (Dean Norris) is on the line and he no longer has friends in high school because he quit football.

Meanwhile, Brandy is a repressed teen who has a paranoid mother (Jennifer Garner) that checks her Facebook, Twitter and cell phone and does not let her have any friends. She takes refuge in Tumblr, which she hides from her mother, and creates a virtual persona.

When these two meet coincidentally at the principal's office, they immediately become attracted. Their relationship flourishes and the two begin to find comfort within one another. The relationship is tender and, as an audience member, one hopes everything will be alright for them. It is also the relationship that one hopes would get more screen time.

Elgort and Kaitlyn Dever are spectacular as two teens. Elgort's eyes imbue the sadness in Tim while Dever's eyes give a sense of anger, loneliness and grief. Their chemistry is impeccable and their scenes together, particularly one in the school library and another at a pond, are heartwarming. With such dark themes and circumstances, these scenes give the audience a moment to breathe.

The biggest problem with this film, however, is when Reitman decides to explore the rest of the film's characters. One of the most annoying storylines is Don Truby (Adam Sandler) and Helen Truby (Rosemarie DeWitt). The couple has fallen out of love and has not had sex in a number of months. Don has taken refuge in porn while Helen has become unattractive and buried in her job. As a result, the two decide to have affairs that will test their marriage. Their characters are unlikeable from the start as they showcase no reasonable parenting skills. In one scene, Don goes to his son Chris' room to watch porn and discovers that his son has the same type of tastes. Instead of talking to his his son, he condones its. Then there is Helen, who never shows any maternal instincts.

One only wishes Reitman would explore their son Chris' (Travis Tope) storyline more thoroughly. Chris is obsessed with porn and an unlikeable cheerleader, Hannah Clint (Olivia Crocicchia). There are a number scenes with Chris watching videos and masturbating to his computer and then at school stalking Hannah. However, it is never explained what brought on this behavior and the ultimate consequences of this behavior almost feel stereotypical and underdeveloped.

Then there is Hannah, who is obsessed with losing her virginity and becoming famous. She is completely unlikeable as she looks down upon her classmates and pretends to be a big shot. Her mother Joan Clint (Judy Greer) takes pictures of her and puts them on a webpage they created as a profile. Through this story, Reitman unfortunately manipulates the circumstances and almost tries to lecture by showing the risks of uploading suggestive pictures to the internet. What he is trying to do is understandable but it ultimately feels over the top and the subtleness of the rest of stories becomes cheapened in this storyline.

The other plot that gets the short end is Allison Doss (Elena Lampouris). Allison is an anorexic girl who wants to get the attention of a popular jock. As a result, she decides to starve herself using advice from a blog she reads. The story is cut short and is completely underdeveloped with no real conflicts other than typical teen pregnancy and abortion consequences. Allison's story is never given a reasonable conclusion and it seems like it should get a movie on its own.

Then there is a part where Reitman tries to unite some of these characters creating more storylines. Tim's father starts dating Hannah's mother and their relationship blooms. However, this is yet another movie in itself. Through this storyline, it is discovered that Hannah's mother wanted to be a Hollywood star and as a result she is trying to live her dream through her daughter. Tim's father is just a stale character who serves no other purpose than to either be upset at his son or be extremely caring for Hannah's mother.

Worse yet is Jennifer Garner's character who play's Brandy's mother, Patricia. Patricia has an obsession with tracking her daughter. However, it is never explained why she is so possessive and the result is a character that feels like a caricature.

Then there is the constant cutting to outer space. Emma Thompson narrates as the Hubble telescope travels around the solar system. Here, Reitman refers to Carl Sagan's work and tries to connect the story by stating that humans have no control over their actions. This whole thread and connection feels so derivative and contrived and it ultimately takes the intimacy away from the film. If Reitman wanted to explore universal themes, the use of his characters and their circumstances would have sufficed.

While it is commendable that Reitman wants to be tasteful when dealing with sex, it ultimately feels like he is trying to serve a studio. The dark themes and the grittiness of these circumstances ultimately feel restrained and one only wishes he would just go for it.

While the performances by his cast are good, the ultimate problem is the lack of focus. As aforementioned, each storyline feels like it could get its own movie. The idea of the internet also ruining relationships is glossed over and it feels like a trick used for propaganda. All in all, "Men, Women, & Children" is hurt by its constant lecturing and its lack of innovative and original ideas.