Directed and written by Jon Kasdan, The Land Before Time—excuse me, got my movies confused—In the Land of Women stars Adam Brody as Carter Webb, a softcore porn writer who, after an emotional break-up with his actress girlfriend Sofia (Elena Anaya), decides to move in with his grandmother (Olympia Dukakis), an aging woman who thinks she's dying.
While taking care of her, and pondering his life's work and his love for Sofia, Carter meets the neighbors living across the street, the Hardwickes. He starts walking with Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan), a mother of two who we know has breast cancer, and finally he falls for her, and she for him. But all is not well in the situation, as Carter has also befriended Sarah's daughter Lucy (Kristen Stewart), and Lucy, being in a state of confusion over her interest in boys, falls for Carter, too. It's up to Carter to figure out his own feelings.
Adam Brody really seems like a likeable guy in this film. I've not seen his other work, but here, he brings a talkative, people-person quality to his character. It's not unbelieveable that two women would fall for him at once, not because of his looks but because of how In the Land... portrays Carter as the guy who has all the answers. Carter feels like a sage, someone who knows the ins and outs of relationships and has the experiences of life. While it could be probable for him to give advice on love to Lucy, it seems a bit strange that Carter could be a mentor to Sarah, who knows from experience what it's like to fall in and out of love. Consequently, Carter does more of the teaching, rather than Sarah, who one would expect to be giving advice to Carter as he reminisces on his love for Sofia.
However, Sarah's predicament holds the plot together; her problems are what keep the film moving along, because if she did not have breast cancer, we would be left with one tedious film about a boy finding love in the wrong places. It was inevitable that Carter would fall for Sarah, and Lucy would fall for Carter; if the plot only consisted of this, the audience would have tuned out well before the conclusion. But to pit the whole Hardwicke family against Sarah's breast cancer tugs at the heartstrings, leaving the audience wondering if she'll make it out okay.
Article comments
1 - Mary K. Williams
I pretty much agree with your take on the movie. Though, on paper it seems far-fetched, the film itself allowed these interactions to feel real.
Except though, for Sofia and Carter. I didn't really buy their relationship.