Synopsis
A straight-laced pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Sam RockwellDouglas Varney
- Michelle MonaghanKara Varney
- Olivia WildeElizabeth Roberts
- Jane FondaPharmacy Customer
- Ray LiottaJack Roberts
- Norbert Leo ButzAgent Andrew Carp
- Ben SchwartzNoah
- Ken HowardWalter Bishop
- Jenn HarrisJanet
- Harrison HolzerEthan Varney
Recommandations
- 88
Observer
The end result of this stoned-cold picnic is both haphazardly successful and somewhat disappointing, but it’s worth seeing, thanks enormously to the tremendous charisma of Sam Rockwell. - 58
Portland Oregonian
If the behavior of the characters had been more recognizably human in its venality, and the film's perspective more ruthless, this custom-made compound might have worked. - 50
Slant Magazine
A sexily chaotic parody of entitlement becomes just another tale of a white dude learning that there are worse things in life than essentially having no problems. - 50
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
The cloying narration and the inclusion of Fonda are just warnings for that moment, 70 minutes in, when this comic chemical train goes completely off the rails. Rockwell, Wilde, Monaghan are worth the price of admission, but “Better Living” would have been better off with more chemistry and less cutesy. - 50
Village Voice
Never feels as triumphant or as affecting as it should, but the script boasts some amusing meanness of spirit. - 50
The Hollywood Reporter
Amusing but not as funny or suspenseful as it could be. - 50
San Francisco Chronicle
It tries too hard, but at least it's trying. - 50
Los Angeles Times
The film often defies expectations but also winds up sidestepping the kind of trapdoors and quicksand that might have made the ride more exhilarating.
