Customer Reviews

Just Add Water

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A goofy movie about my hometown. While the landscape is fairly accurate from an outsiders point of view, there is more to Trona than the movie portrays. After all, who else can claim a dirt football field and golf course. And it was a great place to grow up in the 50's and 60's.

Just Add Water is a moving, quirky, subtly-nuanced fable about suffering, love and redemption. Set in the belly of a culture that's been spiritually and environmentally devastated, enough becomes more than enough, and a small group of determined people decide to reclaim their lives, their homes and their land.
Part comedy, part tragedy, part parable, this film is a mirror for our times.
Beautifully acted. Artfully written and directed by Hart Bochner.

Customers have been wanting to see this title just for another glimpse into this Trona trend. The same named film of last year, along with several other forays into this desolate region have provided a nice realm for those minimalist fans.

Just Add Water has an outstanding supporting cast, but I would not recommend this film if one is looking for any significant screen time by Jonah Hill, Justin Long or Danny Devito. This is all about the Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) and Tracy Middendorf (lots of TV) love story. Hitchcock's (the Serenity doctor) well-played whacko cheating husband role, coupled with Penny Balfour's first notable (and excellent) screen time, makes this a film someone will want to see as these actors become more prevalent. Same to be said for Lucy Devito's role. The location is a character in itself with that miserable desolation and abandoned small town feel. It makes you never want to drive through that area, except maybe to see for one's self if it is that boarded up and bleak.

The story centers on a man living a mundane life with a wife that has serious "issues", as told to us by the movie's narrator (also Devito). His voice-over divulges little tidbits about our tale of deceit, love and thugs in a forgotten-about town in the desert. The believability of these characters and their miserable existence is sustainable (especially if one watches Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea - this movie reminded me of that docu several times). When we get to the end though, you cannot help but see a Big Fish fantasy resemblance (Devito, water) mixed with a bumbling mess of 1980s slapstick (the CPS workers in WWII nurse garb, the immensely overweight police showing up in modern paddy wagon, the constant pregnancy theme, etc.)

I would like to say this is worth the watch for a mainstream crowd, but I find it hard to pinpoint what audience they were trying to appease for this film. One can see Station Agent and Things That Hang from Trees style minimalism, but the whole ending action sequence is so haphazard, it really makes me believe that last part is a fantasy/dream the likes of Big Fish - but with bad special effects. Summarily, there are several laugh out loud moments, a prevalent theme of adults that never had a mature relationship, and a nicely provocative dance scene with the beautiful Italian-American actress Ms. Vincent - WOW. A bunch of these little things makes this a worthy watch for reasons and/or actors discussed, but that ending is what sticks with me as a deal-breaker for not being an outright must see indie film.

The turtle was pretty cool too.

I was born and raised in Trona, California. I remember when Trona was a booming town. The movie was done really well. It's got a great story line,a little quirky, with a great feel good ending.

interesting to see Justin long and joah Hill just before they were real famous

it is a good film

If you know where Trona is, if you know where Ridgecrest is, if you know what the people are like there- this is a funny funny movie. Cute sweet story about a good guy (nice eye candy) and how he is pushed to stand up for himself and his love. Seriously, take it in the context it is filmed- where it is filmed and you'll be rolling.

The movie was a very enjoyable film with ironic humor. The story and the acting are worth while but what makes this film unique is the town it takes place in.

It was actually filmed in Trona and the nearby Pinnacles. Those are authentic. I just want to set the record straight. I am from Ridgecrest, CA where Ray, the main character works. There are no parking structures in Ridgecrest. The land is cheap so all parking is free and on large open lots.

Trona and the chemical plant that created it were founded in the late 1800's and the plant is still in operation and the town is not a toxic waste site. Things don't grow because water is expensive.

The grocery store is now open and I am not certain if they have a operating gas station right now. The high school is still open and they play 8-Man football on a dirt field.

There was a lake there once but it was prehistoric and the Pinnacles are emerging from what was the lake bottom. The Owens River is located north of Ridgecrest in the Owens Valley and is separated from Trona by several significant geographical features and distance. LA did not steal Trona's water. Trona is dry because of natural climate change over thousands of years.

There is a significant Meth problem but the town is patrolled by the San Bernardino Sheriff's department so good people can enjoy life there.

I realize this is not a movie review but I just had to set the record straight.

The movie was good enough that locals do enjoy it. The one very realistic thing in the movie is the depiction of the Trona spirit. That poor little town as the best community spirit in the world. Ray and his friends really do show that spirit.

bob loblaw.this isn't really a deep movie.in a nutshell it's about reclaiming what is already yours.the reasons to watch it are it's wonderfully acted and weird and quirky in a funny, familiar way.

i ordered the dvd for just add water and received it within 3-4 days as promised from seller. The item was exactly what the seller had specified.