Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Robert Zemeckis and his dream team are back with a story that crosses time. We follow a series of families that occupy the same plot of land over many generations. Over a number of lifetimes, we see what each family has gone through, experiencing life in many different ways. Certain trends mirror one another while others divert, making the human experience unique for each. Love, loss, and the trials of life are all present, making “Here” a fascinating character study.
Positives:
When I heard that Robert Zemeckis was teaming up with Tom Hanks and Robin Wright again, I immediately added this one to my list. While “Here” isn’t a completely good movie, it is a sufficiently pleasant one. The idea behind the story is very unique, featuring a one shot take that moves between timelines. It seems as if the camera is never cutting, rather transitioning to a different family inhabiting the home at different points in time. This is a refreshing attempt to do something different with a story that has a lot to say. Humanity is explored throughout different time periods and cultures, giving audiences a perspective that they might be unfamiliar with. I enjoyed seeing how the different families lived unique lives but all had to process similar events.
The central storyline is the most effective, featuring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright’s characters. They are a young couple who are thrust into parenthood at an early age, forced to make some unexpected decisions and alter the lives they once desired. What comes is an intimate look at the unpredictability of life and how they learn to cope and adjust along the way. Hanks and Wright have some emotionally poignant scenes that showcase their long standing skills in front of the camera. Luckily their journey gets the most screen time because the rest of the storylines aren’t nearly as interesting.
Negatives:
“Here” has some creative attributes that make it worth seeing, but unfortunately it doesn’t stick the landing to the degree I’d hoped. The main issue that surrounds the story is the varying degrees of importance. Not every story gets the same amount of screentime or care that it needs to feel relevant to the story. Sure, the exploration of humanity over time in the same location is the central focus. But some of the stories feel inconsequential to the general premise. If they simplified the plot to two, maybe three main families, then the film could have developed the rest of the characters better. Instead, we have far too many diverging storylines going on at once, none of which are explored enough to warrant their inclusion. With this issue, the film often feels unfocused, meandering into storylines that don’t enhance the main themes. Being that this is based on a book, perhaps the filmmakers were trying to maintain I still believe that cutting the “less important” segments would have been a welcomed creative liberty.
Conclusion:
“Here” is a creative exploration of humanity throughout time, and while we live different lives…the experience might not be so different. The leading performances are strong enough to make the central premise worthwhile. Unfortunately, the rest of the supporting storylines aren’t as engaging, feeling like afterthoughts to the main characters. This isn’t a film I’ll tell audiences to go rush out and see right away, but it’s a wholesome story that is worth checking out on streaming.
