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8 Worst Moments In 'Labor Day'

Chelsea Hernandez |
February 5, 2014 | 12:39 a.m. PST

Staff Reporter


Labor Day (via Creative Commons)
Labor Day (via Creative Commons)
Upon seeing "Labor Day," one hopes for a heartwarming experience brought about by love, romance, and forgiveness- or, that's at least what the trailer offered. After all, it is a Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin movie- is it even possible to go wrong?

Unfortunately, it is very possible. To the disappointment of all ‘Titanic’ and ‘Goonies’ lovers, where the admiration for these actors first took root, "Labor Day" is a film that will disappoint and leave one realizing that not even Winslet or Brolin could save such a terrible story. Sometimes, the script and plot of a film are beyond redemption. Here are 8 moments in "Labor Day" that prove it is one of the worst movies of the year:

1. The idea that Kate Winslet would be a single mom at all, especially because her husband left her, is absurd. Let’s get real- this is Kate Winslet we are talking about. One doesn’t get much more beautiful than her. Men do not just up and leave Kate Winslet. Not a realistic situation at all.

2. When Josh Brolin’s character, Frank, threatens Kate Winslet’s character, Adele, and her son, Henry, into giving him a ride from a super market, there is a moment where Adele stands at the register, looking frightened, and the saleswoman can tell something is amiss from her demeanor. However, Adele says nothing to give any hint that she and her son are being abducted. Did she really not think she had a fighting chance against a hurt man with so many witnesses in a store? Or did she not make a scene because she was already attracted to Brolin’s handsome dark features and thought he was worth the risk of bringing home a threatening stranger? Either way, "Mom of the Year" award does not go to this character.

Via Twitter/@thefilmstage
Via Twitter/@thefilmstage

3. Even though Adele has had a very rough past, which has left her emotionally devastated, there is no way that she would have ever been awarded custody of her son if a real investigation were done into her life. Living as recluses, the government would never have ever allowed her custody with such an unhealthy living situation. This is especially silly because Henry’s biological father sees him every Sunday, and he is quite nosey. This is a completely improbable situation for these characters to be in.

4. Frank tries to explain his murder charges by saying, “I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone in my life.” However, the audience sees a flashback to the accidental murder of his first wife, where he pushed her, causing her to hit her head on the heater. Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but using physical violence, especially against a woman, is intentionally hurting someone. While pushing a person is not a huge deal, it is clear that he has used physical violence against women in his life- meaning Adele would have plenty of reason to fear him, yet she actually believes Frank when he says he hasn't hurt anyone on purpose. Really? You're going to believe a convict you just met? Ridiculous. 

5. The idea that Adele would allow Frank into her heart so quickly, after just two days of actually knowing him, is completely ridiculous. This isn’t Leonardo DiCaprio flashing a cute smile at her on the end of a boat- this is a supposed convict, staking out at an emotionally damaged woman’s home (emotionally damaged after failed pregnancies and a husband who walked out). 

Considering how traumatized Adele seems in the film, seen with her ostracizing herself from society and no longer believing in love, it would have taken way more than twenty-four hours for her to let someone in emotionally.

Via Twitter/@YahooNews
Via Twitter/@YahooNews

6. Beyond emotionally letting someone in, a situation in which Adele’s character would have agreed to completely uproot her life when she has been an introvert for so many years, and just move to Canada, is absurd.

Moving houses? Maybe. But leaving on her own makes her paranoid, so this would have been a stretch. Moving countries? Definitely not. Let’s get real. She would have had a breakdown before they even packed the first box. 

7. Henry forgiving Adele for relinquishing custody of him after he accidentally gets Frank caught, simply because she lets her life unravel living with Frank’s absence, is completely unlikely. How would Henry ever accept that his mother was willing to pick her own sadness because of a guy she only knew for three days over her own son? Impossible.

8. Adele maintains her status as a recluse after Frank is arrested again, until he is freed when they are much older. Then, suddenly, she is not scared to leave the house because she has a man by her side? Such a disappointing and weak ending for this character. We can just call this film the antithesis of feminism.  

My advice? Wait for it to come out on Redbox if you're still determined to see it.

Reach Staff Reporter Chelsea Hernandez here. 



 

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