Ingenious (2009)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Good movie but grossly overrated

Better Late Then Never

Absolutely Brilliant!

Renner wasn't big when he made this movie. Which is exactly why this only came out after his Avengers and Bourne outputs. Which is a shame, because the movie, which is based on a true story, is actually pretty decent. The acting in it too. And not only Renner, who's just a side character in the whole thing.We get a fairly normal movie with its ups and downs. And even without knowing the real story behind this, we know where our characters will land at the end of the movie. Well it would be a surprise, if it is a surprise for anyone watching. What I didn't know, was what exactly would be the reason for that to happen. Who'd knew it would be that? And if they did, could they have come up with something like that too? Can we still?

First, I would read Fnorful's review. He pretty well hits the nail on the head.I would add two things: This movie is kind of slow. It tends to hit the same character and story beats repeatedly up until the third act, which is when it really gets going.But the biggest flaw in this movie, for me, is the goal of the main characters. Their goal is simply to be rich and successful. And they want to do it by inventing . . . something.Of course, we can all relate to this ambition. Who doesn't want to be rich and successful? The problem for me is, they don't really care how they do it. They just want to invent some piece of crap that people will buy in quantity. They don't particularly care if they're filling a particular need (except their own need to be successful) or making the world a better place or even doing it to win the love and admiration of someone (which happens just as kind of a side effect).SPOILERS FOLLOW I never would have believed that the world would fall for the talking bottle opener, but apparently it did. I wasn't really with them until they brought out the Homer Simpson version, and suddenly the light bulb went on for me! But that happens about 95 minutes into the movie.Anyway, to sum up, the movie is beautifully directed, shot, and acted. It has some nice story turns I didn't see coming. I liked the characters. But to push it over the top for me, I would have liked their final invention to be something I could really get behind--something I really *wanted* to see succeed.I would have liked to have thought, "Okay, all that other stuff they were working on seems like crap. THIS is it." But frankly, I think the dreaming dog watch was a better invention.

I thought this was a great movie, not just a feel-good film but extremely well cast and fun to watch. I had not heard anything about Ingenious but thought so many facets of the film excellent. First of all the location, set design, lighting, soundtrack of the film felt exactly right. We watched this film and were swept right along with them. The people were believable and we felt so happy for them that they were successful. The acting was excellent by all the main characters in the cast. We watch a fair number of films but don't always feel any connection with the actors or narrative and for many I can take them or leave them. Congrats to all connected with this gem of a film. We bought the DVD a few days later!

Just saw this film at the AFI Dallas Film Festival. I was very impressed with all elements of the film: acting, direction, editing (though the dialog transitions were sometimes a little shaky), cinematography, etc. Dallas Roberts (Matt) and Jeremy Renner (Sam), who had not worked together previously, establish an amazing on-screen chemistry as best friends struggling to run a novelty gift business. The dilapidated storefront they operate out of is the emblem of their entrepreneurial disconnect: high on energy and ideas, low on success. Ayelet Zurer, the smoldering Israeli beauty, plays Matt's long-suffering wife Gina with nuance and flair.I would recommend this film not only to indie fans who like a fair amount of high-speed comedy mixed in with their drama, but also to *anyone* who has ever tried to run their own business, and really put themselves out on a limb for an idea or a dream.All great films (and this is surely one of them) have a key line or scene that summarizes the film. Without giving anything away, I will tell you that in this film, it is the closing scene atop a mountain with Matt and Gina.Jeremy Renner was at the screening for a Q&A. He was funny, quirky, and candid, much like his character in the film. I can't wait to see this guy in more vehicles, even the television series "The Unusuals" that he's making with Amber Tamblyn.Two thumbs way up!