Customer Reviews
In the Land of Women DVD 
2008-08-10
You KNOW this is a comedy from the title -- and it delivers big time. The FINE seller gave me great service, too, and rates AAA+++++.
It really is good for what it is! 
2008-07-01
This movie has no pretentions towards Oscar or any other awards. However, the story is entertaining; the directorial timing is impecable; the plot introduces multiple topics which are largely common, but doesn't dwell on any subject beyond endurance; beautifully filmed; no digression into sexual situations; no sexual overtones of a younger man interested in either an older woman or a teenager; absolutely accurate gestures by the teenage girl; great presence by Adam Brody; etc.
The film is watchable over and over again as pure entertainment. Don't look for what you don't find. Life is at least complicated in the multiple vignettes we experience - some our own and others viewed from afar.
Predictable Comedy/Drama, Great Meg Ryan Performance... 2008-06-30
With all the hype I've heard about Jon Kasdan's directorial debut, "In the Land of Women", I expected something far more than a 'by-the-numbers' tale of love lost, and healing, with stereotyped characters and a predictable plot; but two performances are so remarkable that they lift the film far above ordinary...Olympia Dukakis, as lead Adam Brody's death-fixated grandmother, takes a one-note character and gives it a comic spin that makes it irresistible; and most especially Meg Ryan, as a wise, funny mom dealing with the discovery of breast cancer.
Ryan is at that awkward, transitional phase in her career, over 40, with her patent sweet, perky roles now going to Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson, a period when she must redefine herself to survive as an actress. With "In the Land of Women", she reveals a depth, an assurance, that is a joy to watch. Dealing with her older daughter's rebelliousness, and husband's infidelity, the discovery of a lump on her breast could easily been an excuse for 'over-the-top' histrionics, but she never loses her character's distinctiveness. In her awkward bonding with the younger Brody, yet motherly reaction to her daughter's attraction to him, while cancer treatment robs her hair and health, Ryan never hits a wrong note. This is an Oscar-worthy performance, that SHOULD have been recognized!
So forget the hype, and savor this film for it's true merits...and enjoy Meg Ryan's triumphal emergence as a character actress!
Pleasantly surprised 2008-05-05
Well I really didn't know what to expect with this movie when I picked it off of the shelf at Blockbuster. But surprise...this movie was actually pretty good! It wasn't your typical chick flick romantic comedy. It was a refreshing and smartly funny story about a guy trying to escape but actually finds himself by moving in with his slightly crazy grandma who just happens to live across from a hot mom and daughter duo. Romance is insinuated in different scenes with both the mom and daughter, but that's not quite the point of the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the film and didn't want it to end!
Almost human 2008-04-14
As chick flicks go, this movie is really pretty good.
At least I didn't bored what with high school kids
fighting, affairs. grandmas dying and break ups with
popular singing stars. Meg Ryan hardly resembles herself,
but acts well. Adam Brody plays his lost puppy act.
In my opinion, too many negative reviews from people that just don't understand 2008-04-13
Aspiring writer Carter Webb has just been dumped by his true love Sophia. Heartbroken and depressed Carter escapes Los Angeles to suburban Michigan to care for his ailing grandmother and to work on a book he has always wanted to write. Soon after his arrival Carter stumbles into the lives of the family living directly across the street: Sarah Hardwicke and her daughters Paige and Lucy. His relationships with all of these women help Carter discover that what felt like an end was only just the beginning of something else...Running Time: 98 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/LOVE & ROMANCE UPC: 012569736764 Manufacturer No: 1000017591
In the Land of Women 2008-04-06
My 14 year old daughter and I rented this movie and loved it so much we had to buy it. The movie had everything I love in a movie, I laughed I cried, a great "chick flick".
Better than it appears to be at first glance - don't expect to be spoon-fed 2008-04-01
How Does it Look?
There are times when the image is soft, but not overly so. This might be an intentional effect on the part of the filmmakers. Either way, the image looked acceptable during the day and night scenes, but in scenes with lots of background detail (like during their walks, as shown to the right) you can see the limitations of standard definition DVD. I'm chalking this up to being spoiled by high definition images on HD DVD, so take my criticism as a wish for what could be, but not unhappiness for what this DVD actually delivers.
How Does it Sound?
Being a movie that is primarily dialogue-driven, the sound doesn't play a large part. There are times when the soundtrack tries to become yet another cast member, but the effect was never jarring or unwelcome. Very seldom do the surrounds activate past very quiet levels.
Extras
This DVD has no extras. I like to see the theatrical trailer included with movies, but this disc doesn't even include something as basic as that. Buried on the Languages menu there is a page containing links to the Warner Bros. Pictures web site, but that's it. I even looked on the pan and scan side in the hopes that they might have put something there, but to no avail.
Conclusion
I enjoyed this movie much more than I was expecting to. I watched about half of the movie one evening, thinking that I would return the following evening to finish it. If you've ever read a book and gotten about half way through, only to find that you can't put it down, you'll be familiar with my inability to walk away from this movie with only half the story told. I ended up returning to finish the movie because I wasn't able to quite get it out of my thoughts.
The lack of sleep was worth it -- this is a movie that I'll be sharing with others! Perhaps any extras would not have added to the experience, but I will still lament the lack of even a trailer to extend the enjoyment just a little longer.
It's been done before...but better... 
2008-03-24
A woman who works at the library said that this was a "cute movie," so I knew what to expect, but watched it anyway. ("Cute" usually means: okay, wouldn't really watch it again, but there may be a couple of good parts.)
Carter was dumped by his model/actress girlfriend and decided to go take care of his grandmother and gather his thoughts far from L.A. He writes soft core porn, but he wants to move on to something more meaningful, like writing about his high school days.
He meets a mother and daughter who live across the street from his outspoken, strange grandmother (played by Olympia Dukakis) and finds that he is there to help the mother and daughter connect and reestablish their broken relationship. Something tragic is happening within their family and both the women get close very quickly to their new neighbor.
There are a few reasons that I didn't really connect to this movie. It's another mediocre film that seems to take a theme from another. (had a Graduate-like feel) Also, I just don't enjoy movies that have lots of deep talks, but don't really say much. Last, it bothers me when it's dramatic, but in the wrong way. Carter says in passing that his school didn't have a football team, so one night, Lucy (the teenage girl) knocks on his window and randomly takes him to her high school football field. Also: Sarah (the mom) said, when Carter was talking about all of the love letters he had written to his ex-girlfriend, that she had NEVER received a letter like that. Well, what do you think happened? He wrote her a love letter. Get the picture? It just felt too pretentious, and too Hollywood.
I gave it two stars because I didn't think that it was horrible. I also really liked the grandmothers crazy character. I would probably not recommend the movie to anyone, or watch it again.
i love this movie 2008-03-21
I think that this movie was amazing... it had the best plot... it just was really a touching movie about what everyone wants... love
