Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Alyssa Black (Aly200) Going into this drama I wasn't quite so sure what to expect from the simple plot explanation. Once the film's narrative kicked into high gear I was sucked in and invested in what really amounts to a character study of its leading players and its various subjects ranging from abuse, grief and family. Boasting a talented A-list cast, the drama tells the story of the Taylor family gathering for what was to be a joyful celebration of the family matriarch graduating from college when a terrible accident forces the family to confront traumatic events of their past; in particular son Michael and his rocky relationship with his controlling father.The performances in the film are dynamic especially from Ryan Reynolds as Michael Taylor, the son who has many demons inside him due to his troubled relationship with his English professor father, and Willem Dafoe playing Reynolds's father Charles Taylor, a controlling perfectionist who wants nothing less from his reserved, soft-spoken son. The actors display a tenuous chemistry as their characters butt heads throughout the story in confronting their painful past and handling the grief of losing a beloved family member. The supporting cast is equally gripping from Emily Watson as Jane, aunt to Michael and the female character meant to keep peace following the film's tragedy, to the child actors who are put in the middle of the long-simmering tensions between Ryan Reynolds' Michael and Willem Dafoe's Charlie, and in a subdued performance is Julia Roberts as the family matriarch (seen mostly in flashbacks), the put-upon wife of Charlie who finds herself unhappy in her life but willing to stay cordial for her children's sake. The film benefits well from its use of flashback sequences as it fills the gaps on the Taylor family dynamic and how they ended up in such precarious positions. The movie opens on a memory of young Michael as he was left on the roadside by his upset father and we are already privy to how an adult Michael still has lingering problems with resolving his past. The present- day scenes in which the majority of the film takes place deals with the aftermath of an accident and its effects on the Taylor family makes for even more compelling drama as all the film's players are forced to confront life without the family leader and to come to terms with their inner turmoils. However closure is still kept at bay for some characters by the film's final scene as we are left to wonder what would have happened had some of the others known what was kept hidden from them but known to the viewer.

Joe Day Another film in the genre that has become so popular of late.When did it become so fashionable to depict strong, masculine, authoritative fathers as such villains?Here you have a loving family headed by the father. From all views, they seem well-provided for, etc. But there is a problem: the father is played as a tyrant just because he has the (apparently misguided) idea that boys need a strong father figure. We don't know if the son is overly "sensitive" or not but it would not be a surprise seeing as how dad's every move is questioned by any clucking hen within screaming distance.The son grows up and we think is married but that the marriage is on the rocks or may even be over. Who knows? I kept waiting for him to come out of the closet or something.Anyway, in the end we realize, as adults should (but few do) that we may not always rely on our perceptions as children. In hindsight and with a bit of help (such as home movies) we can see that it was not all bad, that my dad DID love me.And that at some point, mom should butt out with the criticizing dad in front of the kids.

Robert W. Fireflies in The Garden was panned by basically everyone. The dysfunctional family story took three years to be released on DVD which is astounding considering the enormous strength of this cast. Many reviewers all say the same thing that movies like this are a dime a dozen and that might be true. That doesn't this cast and this film any less captivating. Perhaps part of the issue that many see in this movie is that it is in no way packaged in a neat little box with sunshine and rainbows. This is a very dark drama about a very messed up family and there isn't a happily ever after for them. If you can handle a dark drama then you will be rewarded with some terrific performances. Ryan Reynolds shines in his role as the grown up son who has many emotional problems because of a verbally abusive father. That father is played with excellent force by Willem Dafoe. Obviously playing a villain type character is not new for Dafoe but his character is so pathetic, with so much depth, you will just despise him and beg for his redemption much like his family does. Emily Watson is sort of ho-hum compared to the rest of the cast. Once you've accepted that Hayden Panettiere somehow grew up to look like Emily Watson...she also loses all her passion for the role. Panettiere is much better as the younger Jane in the movie. Julia Roberts is good in her role though she isn't used all that much and sort of takes a more ceremonious role in the movie. People are always clamouring for Hollywood to do something unique and I give a lot of credit to first time writer and director Dennis Lee for not making everything neat and tidy. Sometimes you can be in the mood for a dark drama and some solid performances makes this one captivating. Ignore the harsh reviews and give it a chance! 8/10

mao-54 First the cruelty. Yeah, I'm a tree hugger and that's why I think imagery of firecrackers put inside living fish and the senseless batting of fireflies with tennis rackets is a terrible message for children and impressionable young adults. As for the characters -I just didn't like them. Ryan Reynolds was pretty flat, smoked cigarettes, and didn't seem like the same kid that grew up. And then I'm just tired of seeing women -like the one Julia Roberts portrayed- getting mentally abused and just taking it. Don't bother with this one. I love Carrie-Anne Moss but there was little development of her character -in fact I couldn't figure out her relationship to everyone and I'm not about to sit through it again. And then, probably worst of all, I'm really tired of watching drivers turn their heads for several seconds to talk to the person next to them. Let's work on fresh material, Hollywood.