Stuck in Love (DQ)

Stars: Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Lily Collins, Nat Wolff, Kristen Bell. Liana Liberato, Rusty Joiner, Patrick Schwarzenegger

Director: Josh Boone

Problems of a rich, famous and (inevitably) dysfunctional American family. Renowned author Bill (Kinnear) hasn't written a line since his wife (Connelly) left him three years ago for a bodybuilder (Joiner).

Bill's teenage children are both budding writers. Samantha (Collins) probably owes her promiscuity to seeing her mother having sex with the muscleman at one of Bill's parties; she has just published her first novel, although Dad is piqued at it not being the one they were working on together.

Meanwhile, the virginal Rusty (Wolff, a very promising newcomer), heavily into weed and opium, is obsessed with Katie (Liberato), who is hooked on harder drugs. After rescuing her from a bully (Schwarzenegger, son of Arnie) at a party, Rusty embarks on a dangerous liaison with the fragile junkie.

As for Dad, well he enjoys casual sex with a neighbour (Bell) at the end of her morning run (but still spies on his ex), while Samantha is courted by Lew (Lerman) who's nursing his dying mother and not interested in one-night stands.

Needless to say, they are all thoroughly miserable.

We're supposed to warm to these people but, despite good performances and a soundtrack that, saturated with folksy pop songs, fairly exudes fuzzy warmth, the whole thing has a hollow feel. Everyone here is obviously destined to be wealthy and successful and, though, like Rusty, the film is eager to be loved, it's tough to empathise with these particular teenage and mid-life crises.

David Quinlan

USA 2012. UK Distributor: Koch Media. Colour (unspecified).
93 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 2, Swearing 2.

Review date: 09 Jun 2013