Powerful

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

First of all, how did they come up with the title? Was it based on a bi- 'polar' abnormality? Probably! I think this is an excellent movie depicting a family working through 'problems'. All families have some sort of 'problem' or 'challenge' that they either choose to stick with overcoming or give up on. This movie shows us how to relate to some of the problems that families undergo. I recommend this movie to anyone who might be struggling with mental disorders and disabilities because it's a daily and moment-by-moment 'emotional' battle for many in our world. Depression is very common and some people even die from it. What keeps us from that depression is a strong will to focus upon what makes us at our best 'happy' life? Many of us do not know where to put our focus, but if you want to be here in a body, you have to find ways to get through the emotional battles that plague us. This movie is a perfect example that will show you how a family can raise their children and still find some mental and emotional stability through it all. It's a great movie for 'dads' to see and take notice of how 'Mark Ruffalo' handles things. Many dads will resort to alcohol, but that only makes things worse for most because of the depression affect of alcohol. But during his episodes, he never hurts or harms the family, which is the best part of this movie in my honest opinion. I love it because of the 'real life' struggle that affect so many here on earth. Kudos to the writers and if this really was based on a true story by one of the writers, they should have let us know. I don't doubt that is WAS based on a true story, regardless of whether that was known or not.

There was a short piece in The New Yorker last year that made this one seem like a sureshot; it mentioned, among other things, that when Wes Anderson heard the story of writer/director Maya Forbes's childhood, he told her to forget about everything else and make this movie. Twenty years later, here it is. It's obviously a labor of love, and I'm a little reluctant to find fault with it. However... I can see why Forbes cast Mark Ruffalo as her father, Cam, a Boston trust funder who'd been diagnosed as bipolar years before (that's where "polar bear" comes in). Cam was tantrum prone, moody and unstoppably eccentric (way past the standard movie "quirky"), but Forbes wants us to see the side of him that her mother fell in love with and his children were clearly devoted to. Ruffalo's an unselfconscious, immensely likable actor, and he's rarely let us down, but this time he doesn't seem to have much of a handle on his character. He basically plays Cam as an amped-up version of his normal exuberant self, but he sometimes speaks in an affected stagy voice--unclear whether that was Cam doing bipolar shtick or Ruffalo trying out an accent. All in all, I really couldn't see him as the black sheep of a Boston Brahmin family, let alone a guy who'd be tempted to sing along with a bagpiper busking in Harvard Square. (Forbes got one of her cousins to play a partner in the family brokerage firm who talks with the authentic Back Bay honk; the city of Boston itself is played by Providence, RI, a little less convincingly.) Forbes's daughter Imogene, OTOH, gives a great performance as her mother's 12-year-old self, but Forbes's mother, played by Zoe Saldana, comes across as oddly generic. Overall, there are some entertaining moments, but despite its powerful subject, "Polar Bear" didn't really engage our emotions; the script just seems like a series of disconnected episodes-to be fair, I guess that's the way that most of us who aren't Proust or Charles Schulz remember our childhoods-and the film doesn't pick up much momentum as it goes along. Long story short-watchable but disappointing.

'INFINITELY POLAR BEAR': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)A comedy-drama flick, about a bipolar dad, struggling to raise his two young daughters; while his wife tries to support their family, in business school. The film was written and directed by Maya Forbes; and it's based on her own life experiences (as a young girl, with a bipolar father). The movie stars Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide. It's an interesting, and well made film study; on mental illness, and how it effects loved ones.The story takes place in late 1970s Boston. Cameron Stuart (Ruffalo) is married to Maggie; and they have two young daughters together, Amelia (Wolodarsky) and Faith (Aufderheide). When Cameron has a bipolar breakdown, he's fired from his job and put in a mental hospital. Maggie moves their daughters into a cheap apartment, in a poor part of town. When Cameron is released from the hospital, Maggie asks him to take care of their kids; while she goes to business school, in New York full time. Cameron agrees, and then struggles to maintain his sanity; while also trying to be a good father.The film is a great examination of bipolar disease; and how mental illness effects family. Ruffalo is exceptional in the lead, and the two young girls are outstanding (as well); especially Wolodarsky, playing Forbes (as a young girl). Forbes' script is clever, and very thoughtful. Her direction is decent, but not anything too memorable. Still, it's a pretty impressive directorial debut.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/b_aLk3J5gh4

If you're a fan of actor Mark Ruffalo this is one of his most moving performances. It will give viewers who aren't aware of what it's like to live with someone who is bi-polar an accurate picture of the roller coaster ride. It's a bit like watching a train wreck you want to stop watching because it's sad, intense and yet you feel compelled to keep your eyes fixed because those who live and love people effected by this disease are courageous. Ruffalo is joined by strong performances of Zoe Saldana, Ashley Aufderheide and Imogene Wolodarsky as wife and daughters. It's a movie about survival and love. We know once we fall in love with someone it's a powerful addiction regardless of how this human being lives. A the end of the day love is truly love. A movie every adult should see.