Overrated

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

A fake family, really reps for an unnamed corporate entity, with 2 teenage "children" move into an upper crust neighborhood, with the sole intent of selling various lifestyle brands. They have no other job. The Dad golfs daily and the Mom goes to hair salons and hot yoga classes. The kids attend school. As everyone goes about their daily life, they casually promote various upscale brands, which neighbors soon envy and purchase. They appear like the perfect family on the surface. Everyone wants to emulate their glamorous lifestyle. They are successful with sales, but over time, various glitches in the plan begin to appear. Human emotions and frailties, the natural consequences of greed, and the need for real sexual fulfillment all interfere with working for "the company". There is a death, but also a happy ending.Overall, fairly well done. It will be a little food for thought, as well as some entertainment.

This film shows society is a different light. Everything that happens in the film is very very believable. I wouldn't say this film is amazing, however it's a film that has clear messages throughout. It's extremely interesting to watch how the events unfold. I don't want to say too much about the film. It's a film where it's not amazing but you won't lose anything by watching it.Spoilers ahead: 1. I didn't get the ending was the teenage boy said he wasn't living a lie... Technically he still was...? 2. This is exactly how us humans are. We simply want more and more things and the film represents that in a good way. The film could have developed the background of the characters more. But, the film worked and it was interesting.

I hate that so many movies mock suburbia, because I think suburbia is a nice concept, and that there are many wonderful hard working, well meaning people in suburbs.But I do think the concept of this movie is quite clever. Duchovny is the reason it works, if it does at all. He was very natural and appealing as a guy who has gotten by his whole life on low key charm and good looks. He was a nice guy, so we rooted for him. That saved the picture.Thankfully we see the human and redemptive side of these people, which is something we rarely see in satires about dishonesty or materialism. I just wish there could have been more character development and some profound statements about materialism or what matters in life, the way the movie Network did so well. We get character development about Duchovny in a round-about sort of way, but not enough or any on the others in the family, or the neighbors.I enjoyed the Atlanta suburbs setting and the products themselves. I almost felt like the "ripple effect" was affecting me personally. I wanted their cars and gadgets too.Demi Moore has played so many tough characters over the years. She rarely shows sweetness in her facial expressions. There were parts in this one where she should have, but she didn't or couldn't. Maybe she doesn't remember how. It seems she often plays a woman trying to keep up with men in man-dominated fields. (A Few Good Men, G.I.Jane,etc.) Not a bad movie. I was pleasantly surprised by the happy ending and the moral resolve. That's rare. No wonder it didn't make any money though. Not much violence, no profanity, no special effects, and only very brief nudity. There were also no A-listers. Moore is not one anymore.Worth seeing though.

I really liked this movie about an artificial family used to market consumer goods to their neighbors and friends in a new community. The acting is good especially Demi Moore as the wife who is well suited to the role and Amber Heard as the daughter who is quite moving. There is a very good lesson here: stop buying things we can't afford (clothes, gadgets, toys, sporting goods, cars, houses) and take a good look at advertising and marketing in a different light. Minus points: It's a bit preachy at times and Duchovny's character is a bit self righteous and annoying at times. It is a domestic financial crisis parable. Good example of the useful indie type movie that is entertaining pleasant to watch and meaningful. Great lesson - stop spending unnecessarily - a bit of a Suze Orman lesson. Get the whole family to watch it.