Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justine Bartha; Director: Bart Freundlich; Producers: ; Screenwriters: Bart Freundlich; Producer Bart Freundlich, Mark Gill, Robert Katz, Tim Perell; Music: Clint Mansell; Genre: Drama / Romantic Comedy; Distributor: ; Location: New York, USA; Running Time: 96 mins.;Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above
Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones), has turned 40, separated from her husband and looking for a new job in a new city and trying to get over the pains and heartaches. She rents an apartment above a popular coffee shop with her two children. Aram Finklestein (Justine Bartha), a 25 year old college graduate, also recently divorced and unsure of what to do with his life, decides to work in the coffee shop, wasting his time with dead end jobs until something exciting comes up. Luck has it for Sandy as Aram turns out to be a superb nanny for her two children, allowing her to explore and improve her career and personal life. Aram becomes close to Sandy’s children and eventually to her as well. Conflicts and arguments arise when age and personality differences come in the way. Will this May-December affair have a happy ending after all?
The movie Rebound tickles the heart and appeals to young ones in love as well as young once in a matured love. The story, although not entirely original, develops effectively. The acting is believable and impressive while Zeta-Jones and Barth’s chemistry, although falling short at times, is still authentic. There were issues that could have been explored more to give the movie a new flavor and depth. For instance, while they touch the question of age differences, the subject is never really explored. Technical aspects of the film are well crafted, clean and respectable. Direction is almost brilliant with great visualization of a good nanny and subtle and witty interpretation of the comical romantic scenes. Overall, the movie is quite an enjoyable entertainment.
There are several unacceptable themes within the story. One, the premarital sexual relationship between employer and employee is both inappropriate and immoral. Some would also find imprudent that the movie treats as a joke the scene where Sandy’s children witness the sexual act. On the other hand, REBOUND offers a quick peek at authentic human emotions. Friendship is illustrated when Aram becomes attached to the children and remains friends with Sandy even after five years of separation. True love is exemplified when 15 years in between and the physical distance within five years are not enough reasons to douse each other’s feelings for each other. REBOUND, sans the novelty of a May-December love story, provides a good insight on human relationships. However, because of some problematic themes and situations, the movie is better suited for the mature adult audience.
