The premise: a good family man (Brian) dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a wife (Audrey) and 2 children, and Brian's life-long best friend (Jerry) who is down on his luck due to a heroin addiction, but is very familiar with Brian's family due to their close friendship. The death brings Jerry back into Brian's family's lives.
For a film featuring a couple of Oscar winning performers, Halle Berry (Audrey) and Benecio del Toro (Jerry), the screenplay for this film is the weak point because it feels a little schizo in the way Audrey's actions push the action to produce dramatic conflict or retreat when dealing with Jerry's presence as a recovering addict, or perhaps a substitute father figure or even husband in some respects. Berry's performance is okay, but is hamstrung by the screenplay. del Toro is simply Jerry, providing a solid performance, balancing his handling of the demons of addiction and the newfound affection and sense of belonging and normalcy.
At 2 hours, it's probably about 10 minutes too long, and doesn't sugar-coat Jerry's situation, nor his impact on Brian's family.
I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.
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