Review of Marvin’s Room
A heartfelt tale about the power and importance of family.
Directed by Jerry Zaks, Marvin’s Room is a movie that succeeds in what it’s trying to do, and that is conveying the importance of family. From the first few minutes to the last, you feel like you’re peering into a real family’s life and the ups and downs they go through.
At no point in the movie was I bored or wished things would speed along. Each scene kept me entertained with its real and engaging storytelling. The main characters; Hank, Bessie, and Lee all had their time to shine and did so beautifully.
While I do have one gripe with the film, I first want to highlight what I enjoyed, because trust me, there is a lot to enjoy.
The first has to be the acting. As expected, Leonardo Di Caprio, Meryl Streep, and Diane Keaton performed awesomely. However, this movie was really a step up from others like it. Being a family-oriented movie means that the audience has to see the connections, and boy did Marvin’s Room deliver. From the yelling and screaming, to laughing and cheering, emotion oozed out of every scene, bringing each character to life.
The second is definitely the pacing. Now for me personally, the sequencing of a movie can either be a real turn-on or turn-off, and this was definitely a turn-on (haha). Right from the get-go, we’re introduced to our main characters, giving us enough time throughout the rest of the film to enjoy their interactions. Nothing felt too rushed or dragged on. Every scene felt about how long it should be. The more impactful scenes were longer, and the more humorous ones were quick (I do wish they lasted longer, they were quite funny).
Lastly is the story itself. Marvin’s room was a story trying to remind the audience of the power of family. From Lee’s disconnection and regret to Hank’s anger and indifference towards his mother, each character, seems incomplete in some way. However, as the characters reconnect in the wake of a possible loss of a family member, they all grow closer. While they are not exactly “mended,” they are closer. Even after the film ends, you can feel in your heart that they will continue to “heal.”
Now, the one thing I did not like about this film was the ending. For me, it ended in a slightly abrupt way. Right after Lee crosses the “threshold”, the movie ends. I previously mentioned that every character “heals” in a way, Lee is a very integral character to the overall story. We didn’t get to see the “aftermath” of her decision and how that affects the other characters.
This ending wasn’t bad though. I can appreciate the way Marvin’s Room wraps up. We weren’t supposed to know every little detail about this family, just this small timeframe in which they all come together. Nevertheless, I think it would have been nice to see characters such as Bessie and Hank react to Lee’s decision.
Overall, I give this movie a decent 9/10. As stated before, from the beginning to the end, you really feel like you’re peering into a family’s life. It’s an engaging tale about the importance of family and what that can entail. If you like movies that are easy to watch and hard to forget for all the right reasons, Marvin’s Room should be your next watch.
Thank you for reading,
— Miles James
