In the Land of Women
Jon Kasdan is the son of Lawrence Kasdan, who is something like Hollywood royalty. He wrote and directed "The Big Chill," "The Accidental Tourist," and "Grand Canyon," among others, and wrote the screenplays for "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi," and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." So it's no surprise that Jon would go into the family business. The question is why he would make his debut with something as average and unambitious as "In the Land of Women." Think about it. You grow up in a house with an multiple-Oscar-nominee and accomplished filmmaker for a father. Movies are a major staple in the family entertainment diet. The opportunity arises to make one of your own ... and you choose to do an indie-style dramedy about a 20-something guy who has an emotional crisis in the Big City and flees to a small town to find himself? Instead of, you know, something original or different or creative? The angst-ridden 25-year-old du jour is Carter Webb (Adam Brody), a mid-level TV writer who's just been dumped by his girlfriend (Elena Anaya) and needs a break from L.A. His grandmother, Phyllis (Olympia Dukakis), in suburban Michigan, has gone a bit dotty, so Carter heads out there to take care of her, regroup, gather his thoughts, and get over his lost love.
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