The Descendants

2011 • 114 minutes
4.2
779 reviews
88%
Tomatometer
R
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar-winning SIDEWAYS, set in Hawaii, THE DESCENDANTS is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.
Rating
R

Ratings and reviews

4.2
779 reviews
Steven J. Mathie
March 5, 2014
The Descendants moves at a steady pace, dishing out the reality of death and its sometimes slow and inevitable drawn out end of one's life. There are several themes here, and some are extra painful to even imagine. Awkward moments and humor are abundant in The Descendants and just as prevelant are scenes about loyalty, death, and physical and psychological pain. You love the family by the end and like the movie, far from loving it.
3 people found this review helpful
Nick Wylde
October 5, 2015
This was a second grade comedy at best. Everything from George's worst performance to utter lack of story and horrible dialogue, occasionally interrupted by narrator and guitar. Just bad all around, but worth a laugh or two at how horrible it is.
Philip Manthe
July 29, 2014
This movie was a total tear jerker. My wife cried all the way through it. I'm not much for sad movies, but it was well written.