The rest of the film follows the effects of Rachel’s announcement and subsequent denial. She continually goes back and forth about when she has been lying and when she has been telling the truth. Lilly, who has inherited an alcohol problem from her now-deceased father, starts drinking again, and Georgia is left to pick up the pieces (a task made that much more complicated by the fact that neither Rachel nor Lilly like her).
Arnold ends up driving to Idaho in order to defend himself and right his marriage. And the machinations continue. There is also a subplot revolving around a Mormon boy, Harlan (Garrett Hedlund), and Rachel’s relationship with him (sexual and otherwise). As there is already an attractive older woman, an attractive middle-aged woman, an attractive younger woman, and an attractive middle-aged man in the film, the inclusion of Harlan feels much more related to the need to provide an attractive younger male lead as well.
The film could be an extremely interesting look at a family in crisis, at their love and loss, and their trying to find their way together. That’s certainly the goal. Fonda, Elwes, Mulroney, and Huffman all seem to have both the acting ability and characters that are written in such a way as to allow for this film to exist. They’re all good in their roles, particularly Huffman.
Certainly, it’s not fresh ground for a movie to explore, but its mix of laughter and tears and capable direction by Marshall are able to make the viewer forget the areas of retread. Georgia Rule is at its best when the story moves away from Rachel to Lilly.
It is at that point that it takes on a sense of importance, gravitas, and realism that doesn’t exist when Rachel is center stage. Lilly is a human being unable to reconcile her love for her husband and her daughter. She is struggling with her own demons in a way that truly makes the audience feel for her. Though it is a mistake to have the film be this way, Lilly is not at the center of the movie, and therefore the film never really explores her character and issues as fully as it should.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Congratulations! This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and Boston.com, which will allow even more readers to enjoy it.
2 - Kristina
Perhaps as a fifteen year old girl, I am not mature enough to truly understand good acting. However, I completly disagree with your opinion on Lindsay Lohan's character in this movie. Yes she was rude. Yes she was at times obnoxious. And yes her character was a bit of a cliche. But, I still believed that she managed to deliver during the emotional scenes. In fact she littrly brought tears to my eyes many times during the movie.
P.S. "I wanted her to suffer and to permanently destroy her relationship with her family due to her lying about this."
Watever did she do to deserve that?
3 - Julieanne
when i watched this movie i watched it wif my mum and we didnt really lke it its so diffrent from her otha movies and to see her wif that guy on the lake doin all those things wif him was a little bit shockin and allways swearin shes so rude in the movie i giv it 2 cuz she culd hav done so much betta...