Watch The Year of Getting to Know Us
- R
- 2008
- 1 hr 30 min
-
4.6 (1,029)
The Year of Getting to Know Us, released in 2008, is a comedy-drama film produced and directed by Patrick Sisam. The movie features Tom Arnold, Sharon Stone, and Jimmy Fallon in the lead roles. The story revolves around Christopher Rocket (Jimmy Fallon), a successful writer, who is forced to confront his troubled past when circumstances bring him back to his childhood home. As he attempts to reconcile with his estranged father (Tom Arnold), Christopher begins to unravel the secrets of his dysfunctional upbringing and begins to learn about himself, his family, and his own personal demons.
The film starts with Christopher Rocket being interviewed on a radio show about his latest novel. The host asks about his father and Christopher reveals that he has not seen him in over 5 years. After leaving the interview, Christopher receives a call from his mother informing him that his father has had a stroke, and he needs to come home.
Reluctantly, Christopher makes the trip back to his hometown, where he is greeted by his severely ill father, who is now bedridden and unable to speak. At first, Christopher struggles to reconnect with his family, especially his father, with whom he has had a strained relationship.
As the story unfolds, we see flashbacks of Christopher's childhood, which give us insight into why their relationship is so strained. We learn that his father was an alcoholic, and his mother was suffering from depression, which led to neglect and a dysfunctional upbringing for Christopher.
The film's central focus is on Christopher's journey of self-discovery and realization. As he spends more time with his family, he learns to confront his personal demons and come to terms with his past. He begins to understand that the reason why he has been so reluctant to establish meaningful relationships in his life is because of the disconnect he had with his family growing up.
Throughout the film, Christopher is supported by his childhood friend and current therapist, Nickie (Lucy Liu), who helps him to understand himself and his family's situation better. We also see a romantic connection between Christopher and his former high-school flame Anne (Jenna Fischer), which leads to further emotional development.
Tom Arnold plays the role of Christopher's father, who is mostly bedridden and unable to communicate due to his stroke. However, his presence alone is enough to convey the resentment and frustration that Christopher feels towards him.
Armando Acevedo takes on the role of young Christopher, and Holland Hayes plays young Anne. Both of them deliver strong performances and help to set the tone for the film's emotional depth.
The Year of Getting to Know Us is a touching and relatable story of family dynamics and self-discovery. The film tackles complex issues with sensitivity and humor, making it an enjoyable watch for fans of comedy-dramas. The performances from the cast are top-notch, with Tom Arnold and Jimmy Fallon delivering particularly memorable performances.
Overall, The Year of Getting to Know Us is a poignant and heartfelt film that explores the complexities of family relationships and the importance of self-acceptance.
The Year of Getting to Know Us is a 2008 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.