Silver lining

One thing that I think is often overlooked in this movie is the possible breaking of a cycle within its events.

You start with the overused by still powerful archetypes of Denton as the world-weary, reality-crushed and pining older man, and Roxy as Denton's unreachable, idealised long-lost love. You then have Gerald and Dinky, mismatched in the same dreary suburban surroundings, and there's a real threat that Dinky will follow in Roxy's footsteps, creating another sad story for another sad old man - this time Gerald instead of Denton.

But then something happens. The promise of Roxy's return causes Denton and Dinky's stories overlap, in turn causing Dinky to speed up her inevitable desperate escape plan.

When Roxy doesn't return, the sad story of the previous generation - in a roundabout way - actually manages to prevent history repeating itself. Dinky doesn't become another Roxy, and Gerald doesn't become another Denton. The suburban tragedy of the past prevents the one in the present, and the two kids learn from the mistakes of their elders.

Just something I've sorta liked about the movie.