Re: His wife Audrey

Yeah, it always seemed like they had a good premise but had no idea what to do with it so they decided to turn it into this real downer of a romance. Also expected it to be funnier than it was.

I'm trying to go for an engaging, funny youtube channel so, if you have the time, take a look. Hope you enjoy what you see and if you have any thoughts or criticisms, i'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance. A review of the movie here- https://youtu.be/tn12vJcJawY

"So since she wasn't revisited, why even have her in the first place. Him being single and entering downsizing would've worked just fine."

I think it was pretty much to put Matt Damon's character into a funk as soon as he goes through with the process. You could argue that Paul only went through the downsizing process to give his wife the things he couldn't afford to buy her in the full-size world and when she backs out he's left feeling truly alone and unsure of why he even did this in the first place.

That being said, it's a thumbs down for me too for pretty much the same reasons you listed. It felt slow and directionless. I give Matt Damon credit for trying some different stuff lately but both this and Suburbicon both seem to have missed the mark.

It was sold as a comedy but it's an elaborate way to say we cannot escape who we are.

I agree, someone said before or after.. seemed like a comedy with Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wig and then you get the asian lady, Hong Chau and empathize for her and it turn serious and Christoph Waltz trying to be charming old fellow like he always does.

I wish it would have stayed really weird and more of a comedy and not take such a existential tone. Like not like honey I shrunk the kids though but serious adult subjects, that guy in the bar was funny talking about not paying taxes, wish they would explore more of the ideas of getting small and just took it in an odd direction.

Instead I felt this weird Matt Damon icon just trying to give the world food or something before the world ends. to me , and finding love with an one legged lady who was poor.

I have to disagree... (lots of spoilers ahead!)

Audrey, his wife, adds a lot, not only to the first third of the movie as it sets up his dissalusionment with downsizing, but it also triggers his existential crisis, which is key to the film... He has spent his life doing what is expected of him, following what he expects is his destiny and such, without being present, without connecting in a real way with the world and people around him, instead he was simply being dutyfull, going through the motions, following the plan...

His wife's abandonment also mirror's his choice to abandon his new love and the rest of humanity to do his "predestined" fate of joining the people in the mine... It is this choice that matters, the chocie between following the "plan" and continuing to go through the motions blindly, or to engagge fully in an emotional and real way with the world and people around him...

The hillarious and terrifying phone call scene with his wife once he is downsized also has a different, more complex meaning once the movie ends... when we first see that scene it is one of pure cowardice, vanity, selfishness and betrayal... However, when we remember what she also said about leaving her family, friends and remmeber the context of her saying goodbye to her father and her mother's dissaproval, we realise that she was going through those decisions alone... Her husband was unaware and not emotionally engagged enough with her to realise that... It's still the ultimate dick move on her part, as one gets the sense that she had her doubts when they were at the facility before downsizing and she should have spoken up to save him, but it adds an interesting layer of complexity...

If he was just some single guy who downsized for economic or for environmental reasons the film would be different... it would mean something different...