The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
The Hollars
Drama · Comedy · 2016
Aspiring New York City artist John Hollar returns to his Middle America hometown on the eve of his mother’s brain surgery. Joined by his girlfriend Rebecca, eight months pregnant with their first child, John is forced to navigate the crazy world he left behind.
Movie details
The Hollars
2016 Drama · Comedy 1h 28m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.3 / 10
Community rating
Aspiring New York City artist John Hollar returns to his Middle America hometown on the eve of his mother’s brain surgery. Joined by his girlfriend Rebecca, eight months pregnant with their first child, John is forced to navigate the crazy world he left behind.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Hollars?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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An estranged family gathers together in New York for an event celebrating the artistic work of their father.
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The Weather Man
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Infinitely Polar Bear
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Madea's Big Happy Family
Comedy · 2011
When Shirley, Madea's niece, receives distressing news about her health, the only thing she wants is her family gathered around her. However, Shirley's three adult children are too preoccupied with their own troubled lives to pay attention to their mother. It is up to Madea, with the help of rowdy Aunt Bam, to bring the clan together and help Shirley deal with her crisis.
Crooklyn
Comedy · 1994
From Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her stubborn jazz-musician husband and their five kids living in '70s Brooklyn.
Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
John Krasinski
Written by
Jim Strouse
John Krasinski
John Hollar
Margo Martindale
Sally Hollar
Richard Jenkins
Don Hollar
Sharlto Copley
Ron Hollar
Anna Kendrick
Rebecca
Charlie Day
Jason
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Gwen
Court is in session
Put The Hollars on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.