“We’re the least parented generation in human history…” Quite a claim, no? Let me tell you; I don’t even come from divorced stock and I’m pretty sure it’s true of Generation X. Does it give us the right to bitch endlessly? Why, no. It does not. But maybe, just maybe, you’ll understand better when we do.
Adult Children Of Divorce is the acronym expansion you’re looking for. A.C.O.D. has nothing to do with fishing and everything to do with getting caught in barrel. Carter (Adam Scott) had a bad childhood. How bad? Well, the 9th birthday party footage of soon-to-be divorced fighting parents sounds like a highlight. Carter is all grown now, with his own restaurant, a steady girlfriend and a brother living in his garage. He thinks he’s past his parent’s bitterness. And while of course he’s not, why is it important to push him, movie?
Carter’s garaged-brother Trey (Clark Duke) is going to marry. Awwww. Keiko (Valerie Tian) lives in the garage, too. No, this isn’t the best constructed plan. And it’s up to Carter to get the estranged parents, Melissa (Catherine O’Hara) and Hugh (Richard Jenkins) back together. They still act like children, of course, but Carter is the one with the problem. Ugh. This kinda makes me ill. To facilitate the process of reconciliation, Carter returns to his long lost childhood therapist (Jane Lynch) only to discover that she never was a therapist; she was just writing a book on divorce and using the younger Carter as a test case. Um, movie, are you gonna comment on how this is f***ed up? No? Really? She manipulated a vulnerable child. So did his parents.
I’m not exactly sure where to go with this. I think Carter has every right to be pissed off for life. The movie itself doesn’t doesn’t quite see it that way – pointing out Carter’s flaws and showing others being reasonable around him. A.C.O.D. also makes Carter force the relationship with his girlfriend, Sondra (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Oh, did I say Sondra? I meant “Lauren.” Sondra, Hugh’s current wife, is played by Amy Poehler, who I swear is just there so we can see Adam Scott and Amy Poehler together outside of “Parks & Rec.”
Adam Scott is a leading man the way, say, Jell-o is a liquid , or the Jacksonville Jaguars are a football team. He has about three set faces, his go to move being focused distraction, like he’s examining a problem in another set. It’s cruel that Carter isn’t played by a 
better actor, because he doesn’t really deserve all the shit he gets. Here’s a guy who was scarred for life as a kid, but he’s carved out a pretty nice living despite the pain and all A.C.O.D. wants to do is point out how screwed up he is for the sake of “comedy.” That’s messed up.
Frequent readers of the blog [i.e.: me] will note my biggest rule in all of film is “show me something I don’t see on TV.” I paid money. Ok … somebody paid money; I certainly paid money to get in the theater if not for this particular film. Justify my travel, you. And just as you’re getting to the idea that A.C.O.D. could have easily been placed in a TV lineup right after Parks and Rec, you get to see Richard Jenkins’ ass. I haven’t felt that kind of alarm since Donald Sutherland in Animal House. :shudder: Calm down, with time and therapy, we’ll all get through this.
♪Divorce is divorce
Of course, of course
No child is happy by force, of course
You might think about this fact and see Gravity instead♫
Rated R, 88 Minutes
D: Stu Zicherman
W: Ben Karlin, Stu Zicherman
Genre: Revisionist sociology
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Adults who like to whine
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Their unforgiving parents
♪Parody inspired by “Mr. Ed”
