Films dealing with eroding dysfunctional families usually have two sides. On one, they often have deep, well-developed characters that actors and actresses will usually sell their first born to play. These performances are occasionally quite good and sometimes generate critical acclaim and award nominations. On the other hand, films in this genre are often unpleasant events to sit through. We usually go to the movies to experience events or feel emotions not commonly found in our lives -- thus the success of action, horror, and sci-fi films among others. Unfortunately, though, most everyone has to had to deal with some sort of family problem at some point in their lives. So why would we want to sit though that again in a darkened theater?
"The Ice Storm," the latest film to fall into this troubled genre, fits the bill for both sides of that coin. The performances are first-rate, from Kline's awkward father and manhood problems to Weaver's own version of a human ice storm -- or at least ice princess in this case. Wood and Ricci are fine in their roles and seem perfectly cast since they always play kids on the outer fringe of normalcy anyway. And Joan Allen is extremely good in her role as the reserved and emotionally neglected wife. Despite all of that, however, the film is no fun to watch. It's uncomfortable, no one's happy, and there are dysfunctional problems galore. It's the antithesis of the "feel good" movie and while I suppose some people like to watch such stories (which probably explains the success of soap operas), all they do is generate a feeling of depression after you've seen them.
Director Ang Lee ("Eat Drink Man Woman," and "Sense and Sensibility") tries to offset the depressing drama by infusing the movie with much needed humor -- and some of it works. A scene where Wendy, wearing a President Nixon mask, is awkwardly groping, and being groped by Markey is hilarious, but in an odd sort of way. It is very funny, though, seeing "Tricky Dick" in an impromptu teen romance scene. For the most part though, putting such humor in a film like this is comparable to staging a comedy aboard the sinking Titanic. It may be amusing, but we're all aware that it won't cover up the fact that the ship is going down, and in this film, so are these families. While the ending is supposed to give us faith that at least one of the families is together and that they've survived the latest crisis, I seriously doubt that, if the story had continued after the closing credits, that they would still be together. Divorce court and big-time teen rebellion would be right around the corner.
Lee also lays on the deep symbolism in this film. The ice storm represents the icy cold emotions that all of these characters display to each other, while the parents are oblivious to the fact that the behavior they try to correct in their children is actually caused by, and is a childhood representation of, their own adult actions. One such moment, though, comes across as terribly misguided and seems too heavy handed. Elena, who appears to be a morally okay person, suddenly goes into a store and shoplifts some cosmetics. Since we earlier saw her daughter do the same with some junk food, we're supposed to believe "like mother, like daughter." That would be okay had it occurred because of an eventual mental breakdown over her husband's affairs with a neighbor friend. It doesn't though -- it happens too early -- and it just comes across as a staged plot device and is untrue to her character.
If you don't mind sitting through depressing movies, you'll probably enjoy the performances and the decent, but not great story. But if you're like us, this film is much like the movie "Leaving Las Vegas" -- which also had tremendous performances -- but was also too much of a downer to enjoy. You appreciate the acting and other parts of the film, but you leave the theater feeling blue and that's just not our cup of tea. If Lee had spiced up the story in some manner, or perhaps injected more humor, it would at least have been more tolerable. Instead, it comes off as a high- end, depressing, made for TV-type movie, only with higher caliber actors. For that reason, we give "The Ice Storm" just a 6 out of 10.