Lymelife is a character study about people living in suburbia when an outbreak of Lyme disease occurs. The movie has all of the Culkin brothers except for Macaulay. Okay perhaps not all of the brothers depending on how many there are, but I know two of them are in this and they play brothers of course.
The film is about a young teen named Scott Bartlett (Rory Culkin) who has a paranoid mother (Jill Hennessy) who is willing to duct tape his pant legs around his legs and all other articles of clothing to avoid getting Lyme disease. And a father (Alec Baldwin) who is always working and trying to make more and more money and get ahead in life. However, his parents are approaching divorce. Scott falls for his next door neighbor Adrianna, played by Emma Roberts.
Her parents are troubled as well. Melissa (Cynthia Nixon), her mother, is very disciplined in some areas and not so much in others. For example, she is having an affair with a married man. Her father (Timothy Hutton) is starting to lose his mind because he actually has Lyme disease.
Scott and Adrianna can relate and they understand each other to an extent. They are trying to find out who they are, but also having to deal with their messed up family life. It's a tough thing.
I enjoyed this film because it is a slice of reality. The story is dated and is around when Lyme disease was on the rise and not much was known about it. Rory Culkin is the main focus and his performance is done so well. But Alec Baldwin is great at playing a character that can balance drama and humor, and mix them both. And I can't forget Rory's brother, Kieran Culkin. He doesn't have a huge role, but he does have an affect on Scott and their parents. Timothy Hutton is good at seeming to be crazy. He is the only character that is affected by Lyme disease and you witness the toll it takes on him and his family. My point is that everyone gave a good performance and it helped the movie for sure.
The film is slow-paced, but the story comes full-circle. And it actually leaves you with a suprise ending. There is no twist or anything, but the film does leave you wondering what happens next. Ultimately, the film is good because of it's characters. They are all played by gifted actors, young and old. The story may be a little familiar, but as I mentioned it has it's share of realism. But the performances is what takes Lymelife to the next level.
Now available on DVD.
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