Product Details

• Actors: Ellen Burstyn, Melissa Leo, John Rothman, Michael Murphy, Hilary Duff
• Directors: Nancy Bardawil
• Format: Color, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: January 19, 2010
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002TZS58S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,149 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Hilary Duff delivers the most unexpected performance of her career as Greta, a rebellious 17 year old ‘exiled’ for the summer to a sleepy Jersey shore community where she immediately informs her grandparents of her plans to kill herself by the time she turns 18. But before Greta can cross suicide off her ‘to-do’ list, she’ll begin an interracial romance with a young cook from a troubled background confront a tragic family secret and maybe even discover the promising young woman beneath her sarcastic shell. Just when Greta’s looking for a way out, will life find a way back in?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent film & Hilary Duff's finest performance, December 18, 2009

By 

Last Son of Gotham (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: According to Greta (DVD)

Just saw this film at its Santa Monica, California, premiere. It is truly a shame that the movie is not being distributed in theatres and instead is going direct to DVD & Blu-Ray. I hope the DVD contains some extras, especially a commentary, all of which were sadly lacking on the DVDs for Hilary Duff's earlier small, independent films of "War, Inc." and "What Goes Up."

For those who have doubted Hilary Duff's dramatic talent up until now, "According to Greta" should put those fears to rest. Duff turns in an unquestionably strong performance of a complicated character that will come as a surprise to those primarily familiar with her more tween/teen-oriented work such as the "Lizzie McGuire" TV series, "A Cinderella Story," and the "Cheaper by the Dozen" films. What the audience has borne witness to here is her genuine maturity as an actress and the possible paradigm shift in her career to more serious dramatic fare in the future.

Duff plays the title character of Greta, a 17 year old girl who has been "exiled" to her grandparents' home in New Jersey for the summer, given her mother's own inability to control her daughter and preference for saving her troubled marriage. Greta has decided to end her life once she turns 18, currently reflecting upon which method of death would be most desirable. Simultaneously, she has created a "bucket list" of sorts of things to experience in the final year of her life. The news of Greta's plans come as a surprise to her grandparents, especially her grandmother, played by veteran actress Ellen Burstyn. The Golden Globe- and Oscar-nominated Burstyn turns in a fine performance as Greta's "Grammy" Katherine, who is determined to give her granddaughter structure and discipline, and perhaps even aide in finding value in life.

Another surprise performance is given by actor Evan Ross, who plays Julie, a restaurant line cook with a shady past, who is committed to living as responsible and ethical a life as possible. Next to Duff's substantive performance, Ross' own poised and balanced performance will likely be a highlight of the film for viewers. In the movie, Greta and Julie become co-workers and eventually strike up a romance, one that comes off naturally, even in scenes of interpersonal character unease. But Greta's hardened attitude about life, her sharp hurtful words, and manipulative actions towards Julie, as well as her grandparents, threaten to drive those closest to Greta away, even as they all labor to help her see life's gifts.

Standing behind inter-relational tensions, is a haunting secret from the past. Will the recognition of this painful experience finally push Greta to take her life? Or can her grandparents and Julie -- or more pointedly, can she herself -- help transform her great pains into a realization for the sanctity of life? Check out the movie and find out for yourself.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hilary Duff Tries to Grow Up, September 14, 2010

By 

Scooter McGavin (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: According to Greta (DVD)

(What's this?)

It is inevitable that every child star tries to grow up (or drift into obscurity), but those transitions tend to be a rocky road and as awkward as the teen years are in general before they can find their footing, if at all. Hilary Duff has jumped head first into more grown up roles like performing in threesomes on Gossip Girl and an over sexualized pop star in War Inc. Now for According to Greta, Duff unleashes her dark side. Is the world ready for a suicidal Lizzie McGuire? Well it is here ready or not.

For According to Greta, Duff plays your typical rebellious teen that gets shipped to the Jersey Shore to live with her grandparents for the summer. Duff is quick to tell them of her diary where she keeps track of ways to die in. Naturally her straight laced grandmother, Ellen Burstyn (W.) is not amused. Luckily her grandfather is more understanding; same goes for the boy from the other side of the tracks who is trying to get his life straighten out.

Duff does go over the top at times in her characterization of a moody teen, but Burstyn ground the film and the more you learn about the family and its back-story, the more interesting the film gets. But there are too many dull moments in between to keep me interested all the way through.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A young woman transforms before our very eyes..., February 25, 2010

By 

Esperanza Reynolds "Hope Reynolds" (Miami Lakes, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: According to Greta (DVD)

(What's this?)

This movie review is part of my obligation to Amazon for accepting to be a member of the Vine program, a club of selected customers that provide opinions about "new and pre-released items." We enter this club by accepting free copies of products but we promise in return to submit an opinion.

Greta is a welcome addition to our movie collection. The plot reveals a young woman who is growing up right before our very eyes, going from a teenager filled with anger and issues of abandonment, to a rebellious girl sent to spend a summer with her grandparents, to a young woman attempting to become independent through a job, where she meets a young man that has had very difficult times and clashes with what he perceives as a person who "could be lots of fun, passionate, but who could get him into trouble again."

The movie started slow, one has to ponder as to where the movie is taking us and soon we find ourselves in the middle of a powerful story of transformation.

Hillary Duff's performance as this 17 year old who is overcoming parental abandonment issues while she figures out who she is and who she wants to be is magnificent. The grandparents, played by Ellen Burstyn and Michael Murphy are pivotal to her growth, presenting the generational friction necessary for Greta to create a vision for the future.

Without attempting to give the plot away, if you enjoy transformational movies that reveal key elements of personal growth, then this movie is excellent. If you have teenagers in your family, share the experience for them to gain from the lessons learned from this rather dysfunctional family.

Don't miss it!