MovieChat Forums > 5 Flights Up (2015) Discussion > 5 Flights Up and the Abilene Paradox

5 Flights Up and the Abilene Paradox

posted 10 years ago by TxMike
2 replies | jump to latest

I know that many viewers are knocking this movie because not a lot goes on, while I suspect most married viewers over 50 or 60 appreciate it because they can relate more easily to what is going on with the couple.

It isn't really about buying, selling, or moving. It is about how people relate to each other and make the right decision. The couple made the best decision for them after almost "going to Abilene."

The "Abilene Paradox" has been used for years to teach work groups the danger of making a bad decision because you believe that everyone else supports that decision, when in fact few if any actually support it. This rather small movie is in good alignment with that.

My wife and I enjoyed it, we have been married a long time and lived in the same house for a long time, everything this fictitious couple went through made perfect sense to us, even the discussion of how much should we spend on vet expenses for a sick pet!

For anyone interested in the "Abilene Paradox" wiki has a good summary:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

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

[–] JimPuppetRebel 10 years ago

Ruth & Alex (2014) : 5 Flight Up and the Abilene Paradox

Hi Mike,

Spelling and grammar police here again! I think you meant to type '5 Flights Up and the Abilene Paradox'.
Would be great if you could correct that ASAP! 


[–] wwcatalyst 10 years ago

Of course there is a name for this whole process! Thank you so much for sharing it. I love to know the labels for things. And I loved this movie. Those too young to enjoy it should have left, without comment, early on and left the rest of us to laugh and commiserate all the way to the happy ending.