The film starts off with a seedling of an interesting idea. Sol is exuberant in his hate of god. His beginning rant is entertaining, if a bit meandering. No, he's not an atheist. He should have corrected anyone who called him that. "I'm not an atheist. I'm a misotheist. Get it right! Gah!"
He also doesn't seem especially intellectual. They call him Doctor, but never say what his degree is in. He quotes Shakespeare at one point; maybe he has a literature Ph. D.? Since it's not part of the story, maybe they should have just dropped that bit.
He also never discusses research in the debate, like you might expect of a more academic type. He just shouts out his love of sex, drugs, and rock n roll. So why not make him an aging rocker? Or a writer known for his bitter polemics? Or *something* that fits the character shown.
Then there's the NDE. This could have gotten into some meaningful territory - turning his hatred of God into love. Confronting the monumental confusion that accompanies such a sharp challenge to previous attitudes.
Seeing his son could have led to a genuine transformation. The son could have said something personal to comfort and reassure his father. Instead we get a slogan. Apparently the big spiritual revelation involved a phone app and a publicity stunt.
If I could see my dad again, I can't imagine speaking to him in such cheesy cliches. It makes no sense that a child would speak to his father this way.
Anyway, there were some entertaining parts to it. A bit of comedy, a bit of melodrama. I'm all for that. But ultimately, it's more hollow than deep.
He also doesn't seem especially intellectual. They call him Doctor, but never say what his degree is in. He quotes Shakespeare at one point; maybe he has a literature Ph. D.? Since it's not part of the story, maybe they should have just dropped that bit.
He also never discusses research in the debate, like you might expect of a more academic type. He just shouts out his love of sex, drugs, and rock n roll. So why not make him an aging rocker? Or a writer known for his bitter polemics? Or *something* that fits the character shown.
Then there's the NDE. This could have gotten into some meaningful territory - turning his hatred of God into love. Confronting the monumental confusion that accompanies such a sharp challenge to previous attitudes.
Seeing his son could have led to a genuine transformation. The son could have said something personal to comfort and reassure his father. Instead we get a slogan. Apparently the big spiritual revelation involved a phone app and a publicity stunt.
If I could see my dad again, I can't imagine speaking to him in such cheesy cliches. It makes no sense that a child would speak to his father this way.
Anyway, there were some entertaining parts to it. A bit of comedy, a bit of melodrama. I'm all for that. But ultimately, it's more hollow than deep.