It's like a more somber cousin of American Beauty

I prefer American Beauty but they're both great.

American Beauty. I didn't find Little Children to be more somber, but only more conventional: everyone got redemption at the end - the former cop saved the pervert, who himself also had a little bit of good in him, hence his act of trying to be a good boy, Sarah and Brad learned that childish fantasies have to be put aside and that security is worth a little compromise.

This seemed a bit contrived to me at times. American spoke to me a lot more. And I'm a female with an almost 3 year old so I would have thought I would relate more to this one. American beauty is an amazing film.

american beauty is certainly more engaging to a viewer imho, yes i enjoyed both films but ab moves at a better pace, lc is more acquired taste.

I dunno, they sort of deal with the same subject material/setting but they are very different films.

American Beauty is neater and more edifying (ultimately a better film imo)

Little Children is just a story about people, the narrative just sort of happens

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Maybe American Beauty..