The Descendants

2011 • 114 minutes
4.2
780 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
780 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
Sharon Nutt
January 15, 2014
I - LOVED - THIS - MOVIE!! It got my attention from the beginning, and kept it throughout to the end. Sad, sometimes funny, and showing what could happen if you neglect your children AND your wife. Lots of lessons to be learned in this movie. George Clooney played his part magnificently - I saw ALL the emotions I would've felt if I were him. The 2 girls playing the daughters played their parts exceptionally well - all the range of emotions including anger and sadness. The boyfriend thrown in made this all the more worth watching too. He had just lost his father a few months before and WoW did that round out the entire story and help you understand why he seemed like such an airhead - but NOT. I can't say enough good things here. JUST WATCH THIS MOVIE!
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.