The High Cost of Living

Starring

Zach Braff as Henry
Isabelle Blais as Nathalie
Patrick Labbé as Michel
Julian Lo as Johnny


The credits roll as I type this... I doubt it's the kind of movie that would have a post-credits stinger, so I should be safe.

For everything Zach Braff has done in his acting career, I have a lot of difficulty taking him as a dramatic actor. Most of you folks out there know I'm a fan of his sitcom Scrubs, so it took me a while in this movie to think of him as "Henry" instead of "JD". That being said, it's doing both him and this film a disservice to say that's Braff's fault when truly, it's mine.

I've never really been one for "angsty" entertainment, but this film had precious few chuckle-moments. Of course, the subject matter - irresponsible drug dealer hits pregnant woman with car, killing unborn child - isn't the kind of fare you'll find on The Comedy Network any time soon. I think this movie did a respectable job handling the various reactions people would have to being in this situation, from the mother who has to carry the body of her unborn child in her womb until a doctor can remove it, to the detached husband and father who can't bring himself to show emotion, to the guilt-ridden criminal who inexplicably becomes the one person his victim can turn to.

I did have a few issues with the movie. There's a subplot about one of Henry's customers and her child Lily that goes pretty much nowhere. Michel, Nathalie's workaholic husband, is a little over-the-top as the insensitive husband (my opinion may be affected by a personal inability to believe anyone could be so cold), and it seems like other characters were thrown in just to be forgotten about once their scene ends.

This movie had some great acting from Blais and Braff, and the latter did succeed in making me forget John Dorian for the last hour of the movie. I would definitely watch this movie again, and I do recommend it. I don't know about DVD or Blu-ray, but I do know it's available on Netflix and various VOD services.


FINAL REVIEW

The High Cost of Living
3 snowflakes out of 5

TL;DR: Despite a few issues, I really enjoyed this movie. It's worth watching, but make sure you have a funny movie or a sunny day as a chaser.

Tune in tomorrow for the next movie from my backlog! Hopefully, it's something cheerier.