"Jack Goes Boating" is a relationship drama. A tale about life, love,romance, marriage, dating and life again. It's about Jack (PhilipSeymour Hoffman) a very awkward man whose married friends Clyde andLucy set him up with Connie (Amy Ryan), a very awkward woman. Conniementions that she would like to go boating, when the weather warms up.Jack would like that.

The rest of the film is about Jack trying to show Connie that he likesher and hoping that she likes him. Their awkwardness is heartbreakingand real and really sets the stage for watching love grow andeventually going boating. Hoffman and Ryan have a great connection; avery refreshing couple.

The film brings slowness to a whole new level, until things come to aboil. Some scenes really show the theatre roots of this film, and Ialways love those. There have been a lot of recent well done filmsbased on plays and "Jack Goes Boating" is up there with the best.

There are some very subtle and interesting remarks about what makes arelationship work. It was uplifting but in a very awkward way, but alsorefreshingly real and ultimately cute. "Jack Goes Boating" is veryslow, and adult and raw, but I recommend it.

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It is not surprising that when Academy award winning actor PhilipSeymour Hoffman decides to direct his first movie in which he will alsostar, he chooses a script with great depth and character development.This movie is about two couples and each of their relationships. In thecase of Jack and Connie ( Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Ryan) we seethe construction of their chemistry and how they make an endearingconnection. In the case of the other couple Clyde and Lucy (John Ortizand Daphne Rubin-Vega) we see the deconstruction of their relationshipas it slowly but surely falls apart although the dynamics for thebreakup are not as clear as the mutual attraction of Jack and Connie.The screenplay by Bob Glaudini was originally produced on the stage byHoffman's Theater Company and was very well received with all but Ryanplaying the same roles as in the movie although the storyline wasslightly different.We can imagine that this story focusing on thesefour characters might play better on the stage. It was the talkingheads and their words which held the attention and drew the in theaudience rather than the few authentic but not really necessary NewYork City location scenes. The intensity and some of the unravelingwhich occurs in climatic scene reminded me of that old classic Who isAfraid of Virginia Wolf although time did not fly by as quickly as Irecall it did with that play/movie. Also the degree in which drugs wereused in this important scene in our judgment wasn't necessary as thecharacters were strong enough to create the mood and emotions whichwere needed. The film will be released in the Fall of 2010 and mightreceive an Oscar nod or two for the acting.

A limo driver (Philip Seymour Hoffman) has a blind date with a funeralhome employee (Amy Ryan) that sparks a tale of love, betrayal,friendship, and grace centered around two working-class New York Citycouples. One couple starts awkward and goes up, the other starts solidand goes down.

This is a film not only starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, but hisdirectorial debut. Roger Ebert sums up Hoffman's approach by saying,"He is merciless in using himself as an actor. His face is often seenin close-up, sweaty, splotchy, red as if he suffers from rosacea. Heseems to be perpetually blushing. In life, Hoffman's skin is perfectlynormal; not every actor would stand for this, but vanity is not one ofHoffman's sins." I agree: Jack looks terrible, but that is preciselythe point. A trim, handsome man is not what this film is about.

I went in with lower expectations, due in part to the film being calleda "romantic comedy", and also just in general because I tend to reviewhorror films, so I am not the best person to critique other genres. Atleast, I do not think so. I would say the film met or slightly exceededmy expectations, but it is nothing amazing. If you want a film aboutdating or awkward people in love, I recommend a Wes Anderson film. Thisone just seemed to ring hollow for me, like it missed the mark a fewtimes.

The actors all do a fine job, the story is simple but effective. It isactually somewhat sweet. But it did not connect with me. At all. I willmost likely never watch the film again and I cannot recommend it toothers, unless they are Philip Seymour Hoffman fans. Beyond thatsection of the population, it just seemed to be a bit empty. I wish Icould say otherwise, I want to like the film, but I do not.

Greetings again from the darkness. We all recognize the genius ofPhilip Seymour Hoffman the actor. This gives us one more example of hisimmense talent, but also puts his eye as a first time director ondisplay. Not surprisingly, he comes through extremely well.

Based on the play by Bob Glaudini, three of the four main charactersreprise their role from the stage production. Mr. Hoffman as Jack, JohnOrtiz as Clyde and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Clyde's wife, Lucy. Thenewcomer is the fantastic Amy Ryan ("The Office")as Connie. Jack andClyde work together as limo drivers. Lucy and Connie work together forsome odd funeral home specialist who markets some type of unexplainedprogram.

All that really matters is that Clyde and Lucy arrange to have Connieand Jack meet. The apparent reason is that neither of them have anyfriends or social skills. What we then learn is that all four of thesepeople are fractured. Scene after scene shows off the power offriendship and/or the faulty side of on-the-job relationship therapyborough about by cheating and secrets.

For the most part, the film has the feel of a stage production andmoves very slowly as these type of people would. There are momentswhere individual weakness gives way to outbursts of emotions - and notall in a positive way. What is clear is that they each want the bestfor each other, but have no real feel for what's best for themselves.

I thought the film made some excellent points, but I was a bitdisappointed in the hookah scene. That was the only scene that went toofar and my guess is it worked better on stage. On the bright side,there are some tender, poignant moments and the acting is truly superbthroughout the film. It is obvious that these four actors care verymuch for the story and these characters.