Pursuit of love within a dysfunctional family

The pursuit of love tears a dysfunctional family apart in Josh Boone’s ensemble drama. Erica Borgens (Jennifer Connelly) left her novelist husband Bill (Greg Kinnear) for a younger man, creating a rift between the mother and her two children: daughter Sam (Lily Collins), who cuts Erica out of her life, and hopelessly romantic 16-year-old Rusty (Nat Wolff).

Three years after the break-up, Bill still hankers for Erica and he spies on his ex-wife and her new man, obsessing over their relationship rather than expending his energy on a new book.

Meanwhile, Rusty makes terrible choices of his own by chasing after Kate (Liana Liberato), who has an abusive boyfriend.

As Thanksgiving beckons, Sam returns home from college with wonderful news. Her first novel has been accepted for publication.

Bill is delighted but Sam refuses to share her success with Erica.

She puts up walls, engaging in one-night stands rather than allowing anyone to touch her heart, driving away her handsome classmate Lou (Logan Lerman), who might just be the one person capable of healing Sam’s wound.

Star rating : 6