Posted: 03/19/2011

Every Day

by Heather Trow

Its title is as mundane as its subject matter, but “Every Day”, starring Liev Schreiber, Helen Hunt, Carla Gugino and Eddie Izzard, contains some not particularly every day subject matter. The story of an unhappy writer named Ned (Schreiber) in his marriage of 19 years (to the lovely, understated Helen Hunt) and his saga of parenting two children whilst hating his job and saddling his wife to care for her aging, dying father, is not particularly ordinary.

Nor is it particularly interesting. Schreiber does his best to bring some humanity to the story, but lacks the charisma and watchability that might aid this introverted, uncommunicative character. Ned is uncomfortable with his eldest son’s homosexuality. It’s an unattractive, perhaps realistic, quality to give to a character but it’s never addressed at any point in the movie exactly why. Without being given a chance to explain his homophobia, Ned seems unnecessarily stiff and unwilling to make an effort to understand his son or bridge any kind of gap in their relationship. However, none of Ned’s relationships are explored particularly deeply, and his youngest son is virtually ignored in the story, written off as a cute, curly haired, violin playing dinner table seat filler.

Nor is Ned’s unhappiness in his marriage particularly explored, but it must exist to drive him, however briefly, into the arms of his sort-of sexy animal print pleather wearing co-worker Robin (Gugino). It’s as dull a distraction for Ned as for the audience, though Robin is probably supposed to be exciting, as she says things like “I live live while I can, it might be gone tomorrow”. It culminates in a ridiculous and unnecessary fight with her crazy actor ex-boyfriend in her swimming pool. Every cliche’s in here, don’t worry about that.

Ned’s boss is a whiny, temperamental homosexual named Garrett (an underused, uninteresting Eddie Izzard), who says things like “I don’t know how you married guys do it.” Garrett, while demanding the dumbest, most shocking, idiotic writing out of his staff, is remarkably sympathetic and un-demanding, also saying things like “I know it’s difficult, no one’s getting fired.” How he’s able to maintain that attitude in the current economy is never explained.

It’s a mercifully short movie and leaves you pleasantly un-scarred after witnessing the lameness. There’s some brief, nice moments all containing Helen Hunt, and a poorly written subplot involving the almost-promiscuity of their immaculately behaved gay son. Chalk it up to a wash for all involved, no one’s getting fired over it.

Heather Trow is an actress, writer and alternative comedy enthusiast.

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