The Descendants review

Clooney is irresistible in this quiet comedy-drama that captures the best of director Alexander Payne's style and spirit.


Clooney is irresistible in this quiet comedy-drama that captures the best of director Alexander Payne's style and spirit. There is nothing really original on offer, but what is delivered is done with undeniable honesty and a subtle sense of humour.

The hype...
Having made a big impression at The London Film Festival, 'The Descendants' has subsequently been dismissed as something of a schmaltzy crowd-pleaser. Clooney continues to pick up awards for his performance, and Alexander Payne is onto something of a winning formula ever since 'Sideways' hit the screens, but are audiences growing tired of both routines?

The story...
Matt King (George Clooney) has been an absent husband and father for the last few years. He is forced to rebuild his relationship with his daughters after his wife is left in a coma following a boating accident. Scottie (Amara Miller) is a precocious 10-year-old but it's 17-year-old Alexandra ( Shailene Woodley) who is going to prove to be the biggest problem.

As Matt struggles with his kids, his wife's condition worsens and he is hit by the devastating news that she was also cheating on him. He decides he must find and confront the other man, and so sets off on a journey across the beautiful islands of Hawaii. The land around him holds a special significance to his family, and Matt is also in the process of giving it all up for a healthy profit.

Is Matt going to destroy his legacy or is he securing the future for his daughters?

The breakdown...
As the story unfolds you get to see the best of George Clooney. He's not the scene-stealing, bombastic presence of DeNiro or Pacino, but is a more believable interpretation of a man on the edge. Moreover his ability to exude emotion whilst not going over the edge is something so palpable that you feel every moment with him.

He's helped by the youngsters who play his daughters. Shailene Woodley is especially good when facing up to being a young adult, and her interactions with all of those round her feel very real. Credit to the writing and direction here which is utterly on point, even veering to some uncomfortable places at times.

Payne offers a beautiful backdrop to his story, but never sugarcoats the unfurling drama. There is trouble in paradise, no matter how many sandy beaches or picturesque sunsets we take in.

The familial crisis, played out on two fronts, is something we can all relate to. The instantly recognisable scenario of an extended group of blood relatives trying to divide their heritage is kept in the background, yet manages to nag away at us. The added pressure this places on Clooney's character, is fantastically portrayed on screen.

It's the universal themes that make the movie work. When trying to offer us some comedic set-ups, although admittedly only on rare occasions, the script drifts away from it's core principles. These moments leave the actors isolated, yet the talented ensemble overcome these minor roadbumps to great effect.

This unconventional road movie has emotion by the bucketload, and in the face of Clooney we can see every tear and smile along with every small moment of light-relief. The inevitable march of age and maturity might be the final piece of the jigsaw that see the talented actor win a long overdue Academy Award.

The verdict...
Clooney is excellent, and the youngsters around him do a sterling job in supporting roles. Alexander Payne might not make the most instantly gratifying films around, but they are nonetheless charming and 'The Descendants' easily matches up to the directors previous efforts.

Rating: 4/5

'The Descendants' is released nationwide on 27 January. Certificate: 12A
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