NEW YORK (OSV News) — Lady of letters Gertrude Stein once famously observed of Oakland, California, the city in which she was raised, “There is no there there.” As it turns out, there’s not much there to the drama “Here” (TriStar), either.
Director and co-writer Robert Zemeckis’ adaptation of Richard McGuire’s graphic novel traces the history of a plot of land, and the turn-of-the 20th-century house eventually built on it, from the age of dinosaurs to the era of COVID. Along the way, we’re given some brief glimpses, and at least one sustained examination, of the lives of those who successively occupy the dwelling.
The primary focus is on two generations of the Young family, a middle-class clan who first move into the home at the end of World War II. The greatest generation is represented among the Youngs by Army veteran-turned-traveling-salesman Al (Paul Bettany) and his homemaker wife, Rose (Kelly Reilly).
It’s not long before the baby boomers put in an appearance, though, in the person of Al and Rose’s son, Richard (Tom Hanks). Long before the hippies descend on Max Yasgur’s farm, Richard – aged 18 – has acquired a spouse, Margaret (Robin Wright), after impregnating her.
Interspersed with the Young’s story are scenes involving the structure’s original owners, John (Gwilym Lee), a free-spirited aviation pioneer, and his uptight missus, Pauline (Michelle Dockery). We’re also introduced to Al and Rose’s immediate predecessors, apparently cohabiting couple Leo (David Fynn) and Stella (Ophelia Lovibond).
Along the way to immeasurably enhancing Western civilization by inventing the La-Z-Boy recliner, Leo makes ends meet by taking racy photos of Stella. Just how racy is not made clear.
Several other plot lines are woven in as well. It all gets a bit exhausting.
To the extent that there’s a unifying theme to the chronologically sprawling proceedings, it concerns the embittering effects of professional failure and of dreams not pursued. But Zemeckis’ script, penned with Eric Roth, is so emotionally shallow that viewers are unlikely to feel invested in the characters.
Historical cliches, moreover, abound. The Pearl Harbor attack is announced over Leo and Stella’s radio, Ed Sullivan is seen on the Youngs’ television introducing the Beatles and even Benjamin Franklin’s quarrel with his Tory son gets thrown in for good measure.
What might have been an intriguing device – one location as the setting for several vignettes over a vast space of time – gets squandered because the parade of inhabitants feel more like types than individuals. So, although “Here” is acceptable for a broad swath of grownups, they may choose to go elsewhere instead.
The film contains scenes of pre- and nonmarital sensuality, a frivolous treatment of erotica, about a dozen uses each of profanity and crude language, several milder oaths, at least one rough term and a couple of crass expressions. The OSV News classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.