  The Answer Man a.k.a. “Arlen Faber,” “The Dream of the Romans”MPAA Rating:
 for language._____
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Romance, Comedy
Length:
1 hr. 35 min.
Year of Release:
2009
USA Release:
July 24, 2009 (limited—5 theaters in NY/LA/PA)
DVD: November 3, 2009 
Relevant Issues
What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer How can we know there’s a God? Answer What if the cosmos is all that there is? Answer If God made everything, who made God? Answer What does God say? Answer How do we know the Bible is true? Answer When we say that the Bible is the Word of God, does that imply that it is completely accurate, or does it contain insignificant inaccuracies in details of history and science? Answer How can the Bible be infallible if it is written by fallible humans? Answer
“He wrote the book on life’s big questions. But the truth is he hasn’t got a clue.” Producer’s synopsis: “Everyone wants to meet Arlen Faber, the world famous author of the best-selling spiritual book Me and God, but crotchety, disgruntled Arlen simply wants to be left alone—and so far he’s been successful in keeping his identity a secret. But all that changes when troubled bookstore owner Kris Lucas discovers his home address and barters books for Arlen’s words of wisdom, and a back injury leads the reclusive writer to begin dating chiropractor and overprotective single mother Elizabeth. As Arlen’s relationships with his newfound friends begin to grow, he must come to terms with his past and the realization that he doesn’t hold all the answers.
Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie—Request this assignment See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Positive
none Negative
none Movie Critics
…a diverting dramedy of human and spiritual connection… Though his film is a tad choppy and a lot chatty, Hindman elicits sympathetic performances from leads who demonstrate a deep understanding of movie physics.… [3/4]
—Carrie Rickey, The Philadelphia Inquirer …The strong New Age worldview mixed with strong foul language makes this a movie that requires much discernment and strong caution.…
—Movieguide …Could have been awful, but Daniels sells it well…
—David Wildman, The Boston Phoenix …The movie offers scant plausibility of Faber having either the aura or personality to be such a successful self-help author,… the film’s exaggerated tone and sledgehammer style veers awkwardly between social satire and the comedy of cruelty.…
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Screen International …Amid the glib psychological disclosures, the movie offers bits of religious commentary, as when Arlen refers to fundamentalist interpretations of the book of Revelation as simply “a horror movie.” …The Answer Man’s philosophy owes more to Hollywood hokum than French existentialism.…
—Mark Jenkins, National Public Radio … I have one question for “The Answer Man”: How did you get made? …shopworn and utterly contrived romantic comedy… [1/4]…
—Kyle Smith, New York Post |
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