THIS WAS AN ACCIDENTAL DOUBLE-POST. I CAN'T DELETE IT OR DON'T KNOW HOW. I'M LOOKING, BUT IN THE MEANTIME DON'T VOTE FOR THIS ONE
The acting is good in this movie don't get me wrong. However, if there was ever a more obvious plot line to take advantage of people who were missing father figures in their life, I can't think of one greater than this.
The Plot without totally ruining the story (which I am sure you could guess anyway:) Some kids who are reasonably well behaved stumble upon fugitive Matthew McNametoodifficulttospell on an island one day while doing innocent teenager kid stuff. He seems like a nice enough guy and not terribly rapey. His name is presented just as "Mud," and Mud asks them to help him with getting him some food and helping him make his boat (which is stuck in a tree somehow that isn't explained) ready to sail again but to do so with absolute secrecy.
I'm being overly silly despite the fact that I thought the film was actually reasonably good. I just find it a bit annoying when they always try to insert some guy who is accused of a crime that we aren't really given the circumstances of very clearly but it turns out that he is really nice to young kids for some reason. This was done to great fan-fare in a film called "A Perfect World" and probably many times before. However, whenever i see it, i tend to think that the plot is a bit tired and well, "fishing for critical review" in lieu of having an actual inventive story.
I applaud Matthew McConaughey for being in this film and his acting is the 2nd best of anyone in this film. The gold medal goes to Tye Sheridan, who play the role of Ellis (one of the 14 year old's who "discovers" Mud on his island.) I give him the top prize because his performance is flawless, including showing just the right amount of emotion but not going too over the top in situations that someone as old as he is (the actor, not the person he is portraying) can possibly be familiar with. He executes these scenarios perfectly.
Reese Witherspoon was super-hot in this movie and her involvement was a little bit hokey in that McLongStrangelySpelled just happens to be stashed away on a nearby island while she is searching for herself as a person nearby despite the fact that she doesn't live there. Of course "Mud" happens to be desperately in love with her as well. Where people were and when was far too convenient and rom-commy for me. Just because we introduce a tiny bit of action and drama doesn't really change this "eye rolling moment" for me.... if that makes sense to you.
McConaughey was ok in this, but not great. He was just himself without the comedy. There was nothing else particularly special about his performance. I am not saying he is not a great actor because he is. I love him in Dallas Buyers' Club, but this movie just isn't special. That might have a lot to do with the script rather than the man.
If you didn't think the movie was corny I apologize. But i thought it was. Tye Sheridan was incredible in it and I certainly hope he went on to do other greater things because he certainly has what it takes to do so.