MovieChat Forums > Laggies (2014) Discussion > What on earth were they thinking? < < SP...

What on earth were they thinking? < < SPOILERS > >

posted 10 years ago by bh90212
22 replies | jump to latest

When I watch something that doesn't make sense to me, I have to wonder what the writers were thinking. They do have control over the characters and plot after all. So why would they make such a mess of this movie? The biggest problem was the main character. Were we supposed to be rooting for a girl who...

1. Has a master's degree and is 30 years old and works for her dad as a sign twirler.

2. Lies to her boyfriend about getting a career and some direction in life and instead goes to her parents' house to watch TV.

3. Thinks it's cute to stand on something and pop her head in to make someone laugh because at 30, that's funny.

4. When faced with the choice of buying kids alcohol (and is then responsible for their actions while they're under the influence) decides to load them up.

5. When dealing with an issue that makes her uncomfortable, runs away.

6. Upon running away and having nowhere to go, sneaks in the house and sleeps on the floor with the high schooler she just met.

7. Uses her time away not to reflect and gain perspective and figure out what to do with the rest of her life but instead, gets drunk and sleeps with high school kid's father.

8. Lies to boyfriend ABOUT EVERYTHING and then decides, after cheating on him, to go ahead and get married. (only doesn't go through with it b/c of "the group")

9. Shows no growth, no resolution, no direction, no anything and then returns to 45-year-old's house to continue their one-week relationship.

Not to mention:

10. Accepts to be the godmother of lifelong friend's child and upon learning of the birth, does not even bother to acknowledge it?

There are more but I think this makes my point. Let's put aside the physical age difference. This girl acts like she's 18 not 30. Can we be happy for her that she has no idea who she is, what she wants and where she's going but she has her young friend's hot dad, so yay! We're all happy!

The writers actually have control over where this story goes and this was how they resolved her conflict.

If not for Sam Rockwell (who rocks in this movie) this would have been a train wreck. And for not yet 30, Knightly is looking a bit rough.

[–] NemoNobody87 10 years ago

Perhaps that was the intent? Not all the protagonists have to be role models.

[–] aerrich 10 years ago

If not for Sam Rockwell (who rocks in this movie) this would have been a train wreck.

The reason he rocks and for Megan falling for him is that he is easygoing and non-judgmental, something that you and the circle of friends she dumps obviously are not.

People aren't perfect and someone like Megan with more flaws than most is forced to lie to appease the people in her life that can't accept her for the way she is and yes even run away when it gets to be too much to handle. When she was able to get away from those putting so much pressure on her she bloomed and her good qualities began to shine through.

Think of her as a puzzle piece that did not fit any of the other pieces in her life except for her Dad even though they kept trying to force themselves to lock into place with her. Once she learned to dump the pieces that didn't fit and seek out those who do fit she found happiness and could finally begin to mature.

[–] bh90212 10 years ago

Well, now he has 2 kids to support.

[–] aerrich 10 years ago

Perhaps at first but under his nurturing influence she'd soon put her degree to use, perhaps as a school counselor? They could even go into business together as her master's in marriage and family counseling would be a perfect complement to a divorce attorney.

Quit exhaling! You are contributing to global warming.

[–] bh90212 10 years ago

I applaud your vision and optimism. YOU should be her guidance counselor.

[–] mosesposes 10 years ago

I felt like we were supposed to take away that she had sort of found her calling. In the end being on about the same level as a scared teenager for over 10 years, has prepped her for working with teenagers. The scene where she encourages Chloe to just go for it, is supposed to show that's where her life is headed. Combine that with her quizzing the guidance counselor what credentials her job took, it seems like she found where she fit professionally as well, but maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[–] bh90212 10 years ago

I was not one who followed society's "norms." I didn't start college until I was 22. But then I finished a 4-year degree in 2.5 years. I went out to LA, lived in Malibu and went to grad school at Pepperdine. (Finished with a 4.0) Spent a lot of time skating at the beach and preferred to wait tables rather than work for corporate America, etc. So I was weird. A smart girl who didn't want to conform. Started my own business and that went well. I think I always knew though that I was meant to run a business and not work for one. But I have a Peter Pan complex as well.

So that wasn't so much my issue. I just expected to see some more growth, for her to find a path or at least a direction, an interest. It seemed so unfinished. And the Craig character, though fabulous, just seemed like he would tire of her quickly so was hard to believe in a "happily ever after" with those two.

There were ++ to this movie...mainly Rockwell, but Knightley's character came off too much like a kid who didn't want to grow up than someone trying to find her place in society. At the end of the movie, she needed to find some sense of identity. You can't be in a relationship w/ someone if you don't know who you are.

To sum it up, this was no Catcher in the Rye.

[–] shoutingagain 10 years ago

I am much like you---high achieving, competitive (with self only), driven, perfectionistic & certainly hold impressive credentials...both academic (graduated summa cum laude) & professional. So happens, I also am vastly humble & modest but truly am just being honest & factual here (& can be since this is online where I'm anonymous anyway, no one cares!).
But to the point here!
Except I did, somewhat blindly, follow cultural norms & the acceptable path. At the time, I was --or so I thought--rather unsure what my heart truly wanted anyway. So easiest to just conform; it truly is just simplest road to follow.

And I have to say (now almost mid-50's) if I had a do-over I'd have taken far more risks, engaged in a bit more reflection & maybe even bucked the system for some spot of time. Your life reads wonderfully insightful actually.
I wish I had further challenged both myself & others.
Can be good & healthy.
And no doubt about it, takes a healthy dose of courage & confidence.

While my life turned out fine, and I sit proud of all I accomplished, I also must acknowledge that we only go around once. Life goes fast & we have one shot at it. So I tell everyone younger & those that ask (or care to listen) that my most solid advice is to dig deep, keep evolving & test out what makes your heart happiest. Success certainly is NOT simply about financial gain & materialism. Nor does it relate to your status in society. Those are quite irrelevant. At least I held keen awareness of that at a very tender young age, so in that I take heart & helped guide my way. Plus finances can & do fluctuate, much out of our own control (health being one variable) so dangerous to place too much stock there, as we see society often fall into such common error & flawed thinking.
I know it's a bit off topic but honestly I find it both sad & unfortunately that most persons don't realize that is not where happiness truly lies. Plus, frankly, I think if you are bright & ambitious enough, with unfailing work ethic, IF that's your objective---and for many it is, comfort---well, that can be attained easily enough (at least here in the US, maybe not so simple an objective globally)!

Still your first post made me reevaluate the film somewhat as I just saw a protagonist trying to make her way & unable to do so, probably due to utter confusion & lack of direction.....as many in their 20's might likely feel & are entitled to.
But yes, surely it would behoove such character to SHOW that. We see none of her trying to figure anything out. Not really. And if what we DO see is her "trying"...well, sad to say, it's beyond dysfunctional & I fear she'll be out of lawyer's life as quickly as she entered. I needed to see some measure of at least trying to find answers & I saw none depicted here.
Oddly, I still enjoyed the ride. Maybe because it attempted to go to a place I think is good ground for kids to visit & ideally relate to (and no, I do not mean the specifics here but overriding theme). Guess in reality, could've been managed a bit better, but I'm very glad I watched it.

[–] denise1234 9 years ago

bh90212^

She wouldn't be able to find some 'sense of identity', falling in love with Rockwell (character) and sharing life with him and his daughter?

Do you think that the two situations are necessarily mutually exclusive?

"There's a band playing on the radio ~ With a rhythm of rhyming guitars"

[–] phantomF-12 10 years ago

You sound just like her group of friends.
Beaten down by life, with all the fun gone.

At least she was still fun.

The only thing she could've done better was leave Anthony way earlier, because they just didn't fit together anymore.

[–] bh90212 10 years ago

Sorry, can't see if that was replying to me. Did you say "beaten down by life with all the fun gone" to me? If so, you really couldn't be more wrong. I lived in LA - Malibu, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, etc. so all the best places - skated at the beach, met celebs, then move to Greece. Last year I was in LA twice, Sydney twice, Paris, Nice, Monte Carlo, San Remo (Italy), Crete and Rhodes. That was just 2014. I took my rollerblades and skated everywhere. TRUST ME, I have more in common w/ her than you think and I'm much older. But I also have one business, am getting ready to launch a startup and have a bigger project that will take a bite out of Google. So you can still have a life, be unconventional and be responsible.

My point is that she didn't know who she was, where she was going and what she wanted from life. This is not someone we can root for in any relationship - let alone a 40+ year-old man - and believe it's going to last. The writer(s) really needed to show more character development for her because as it stands, there's no way to believe in "happily ever after" for these two.

[–] Alexander_Delarge_655321 10 years ago

Megan is a trainwreck in this movie. An absolute trainwreck.

Go Big Red

[–] StuffAndThangs 10 years ago

Im 30 amd can relate to her. Feeling like i have no place in the world. Masters degree but stuck in a job i dont really enjoy but have to stay in to make money

I feel completely lost and like an 18 yr old often.

Life tries to put u in boxes ur whole life..people think by the time youre 30 you should have it all figured out and for some of us, that just isnt so

[–] flafims 10 years ago

Well, I can see why she acts like that. People make mistakes and she was totally lost. I could know from the begining that she wasn't really sure about getting maried. She just didn't realise it as fast.

[–] Painbow 10 years ago

Well the point of the film is that she finds it harder to grow up compared to most people

Though I disagree with the films message (you will grow up when you know who you are, mix with the right people) this is just gibberish. Truth is, western society celebrates and covets youth to the detriment of everything else. Culturally, we no longer embrace adult responsibilities and commitments and we're trying to find ways of justifying that (this film also)

The outcome is utterly disingenuous. She's basically just swapped one norm for another (but hey, she's having fun right.......until she gets bored again)

The film was pretty dire but for Sam Rockwell and the quarter life crisis was not very engaging. I suspect we'll see more films like this as the decades go by

[–] TxMike 10 years ago

" Truth is, western society celebrates and covets youth to the detriment of everything else. Culturally, we no longer embrace adult responsibilities and commitments and we're trying to find ways of justifying that (this film also) "

And that is just gibberish. Maybe that is the way YOU see your role.

Besides, this is a movie made for entertainment and to feature popular actors. Why? So the producers could make a profit. Trying to interpret some deep message in this type of entertainment isn't very worthwhile.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.

[–] Painbow 10 years ago

Thoughtful, intelligent people will always look to interpret art (even when it's bad art)

Imbeciles rarely so

And if you think this film was made to make a profit then I requests that you never consider becoming an entrepreneur (for your own good)

[–] TxMike 10 years ago

Your interpretation still is gibberish, you can't deny that!

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.