Life As A House (2001)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

For our second episode spotlighting the work of actor Kevin Kline, we turn to his dramatic work in a film that will tug at your heart in a way few others have! Directed by Irwin Winkler, 2001's "Life As A House" follows George Monroe, an architectural model-builder whose usefulness is ending thanks to computer modeling. He is divorced and his ex-wife, Robin Kimball (Kristin Scott Thomas) has remarried and lives with husband Peter (Jamey Sheridan), George's estranged son Sam (Hayden Christensen), and two younger children from her second marriage. After George loses his job and finds out he has terminal cancer, he resolves to tear down his eyesore of a home and build his dream house in the four months he has left. He shanghais Sam into moving in with him for the summer to help him in his efforts. Next door is an ex-girlfriend of George's, Colleen Beck (Mary Steenburgen) and her daughter Alyssa (Jena Malone). Across the street is George's nemesis, angry neighbor David Dokos (Sam Robards), who tries several times to end the construction for personal, vindictive reasons. As George's time nears, more and more people he has connected with throughout his life arrive to help get the house finished, but its ultimate disposal ends up being something no one could have predicted! The film also stars Mike Weinberg, Scotty Leavenworth, and Ian Somerhalder! Plus, the trio reveal which two films were pivotal in affecting real-world race relations will make up their next pairing!