Search - Taking Chances on DVD

Glad I Took a Chance

Mike Shoreham | 12/22/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I had heard that the guy who does the "Hi, I'm a Mac" t.v. commercial was in this film, my interest was piqued. Didn't know who the other actors were.... didn't matter: the story, a variation on the David vs Goliath theme, was compelling. It is unfortunate that the cover art of the DVD gives the impression of this being a teenage romantic comedy. The movie itself belies that image - it's a complex, textured story about good and evil, innocence and knowing, honesty and deceit. My only criticism: perhaps the movie tries to take on too many deep contradictions. Even so, "Taking Chances" is worth watching."

Somewhat mismarketed

Ladygo | Oakland, CA | 01/01/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Judging from the cover and description on the back of the box, I expected this to be a cotton candy film (heavy on the sweetness yet lacking in substance). I was surprised to find it actually had a much more interesting storyline. It really isn't the romantic comedy the marketing people billed it to be. It is, however, a commentary on some of the less desirable aspects of our society pleasantly wrapped in a quirky sense of humor."

Young Adult Romantic Comedy or Incisive Cultural Commentary?

Rebecca Thatcher | Missouri | 12/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is not what I thought it was going to be - and am I ever glad. One week later and certain parts and scenes are still going through my mind. Maybe it was just coincidence, but the movie was released at a time when the backdrop of the story: the setting of a town in economic downturn, the political powers that be desperate to do something, anything, to reinvigorate the community, but at the high cost of selling out the very thing that makes the place unique; the young "ingenue" who lives a secret life --all could be plucked out of the headlines of the evening news. This movie turned out to be as darkly comedic and as incisive as a Coen Brothers' film, but so much more stealthy. Some issues and characters aren't what they seem, and some are so obvious as to seem caricatures. Themes:politics, political correctness, political corruption; and then: yearning, shades of desperation, and hope and idealism, peppered with irony and not a little comedy. This is cultural commentary, a uniquely American story, masquerading as a young adult romantic comedy. Check it out..."

Disappointing on the long haul

Thomas Williams | Orlando, FL | 04/21/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The movie started out really well and I thought it was funny and interesting for the first hour or so. Then it just took a set of turns and spins that made the movie rather irrelevant.

SPOILER WARNING*** His fight against what was coming was totally ridiculous and plain stupid. Justin Long's character's idea to "save" the town by thinking he could create a tourist attraction was discredited by himself at the end anyway. So the town was taken in by a bunch of con people, yeah so what? They were doing what they thought would save their town, their town was going down the drain if they had done nothing. It would make it seem that the town council were the only people hurt by the greed shown. That entire town died but of course we drive away with the main character and aren't there to see that part.

There was no romantic or anything of real value to learn from their relationship either. It leaves it with her having a piece of paper that directs her to where her father might be. Oookay, again so what?

Too many loose ends and the moral of the story is??? The funny stuff at the end was??? Exactly."