This was a decent enough film. Sometimes, the worst thing in your life can be the best thing. John Callahan (a good but miscast Joaquin Phoenix) is an alcoholic bastard who is paralized in a car accident as both he and his friend, Dexter (Jack Black) are stone-cold drunk at the time.
Though John knows almost instantly that alcohol is a problem, he doesn't actually try to get sober until he has a vision of his biological mother. He had already joined AA, with Donnie (Jonah Hill) as his sober coach and a bunch of quirky characters in his AA group.
After his finally sobers up, he starts drawing, griping the pen with both hands and creates some controversial cartoons which some find completely hilarious and others find politically incorrect. But this source of income threatens to derail his funding that needs to survive as he can't do anything really by himself, not even pouring himself a glass of water. But he keeps doing that, he keeps staying sober and he comes to terms with his life as is and is a better person for it.
Overall, the film isn't bad though once again, Rooney Mara has a role beneath her talents and Phoenix, though excellent in a difficult role is miscast. He is at least ten years too old. Though the film is labeled as a comedy, there is only one funny moment, when Tim (Tony Greenhand), John's helper), walks in on Annu (Mara) and John having sex.
Still, it was far from a wasted evening. But it failed to live up to its promise. Also, pay attention for a quick Heather Matarazzo cameo; she was so good in The Princess Diaries, but has done nothing since, and that is a real tragedy. Grade: B
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