Customer Reviews

Pop & Me

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having just had the privilege to a special screening (Kansas City's one and only showing) of "Pop and Me" at the theatre where I work, I immediately wanted to write my comments on the film while it was still fresh in my mind.

I was pleased to discover the other (at this time)nine reviews posted here express the same sentiments I was eager to express about the film (and as an aside, Chris Roe and his father Richard were in attendance at the film's screening, and were very generous with their time, and as seemingly honest, and funny, as they are presented in the film.)

If you were to read a capsule summary of the film as I did, you might be misled down avenues of thinking that, fortunately, this film does not take. I thought it would be overly sentimental (considering the father-son subject matter), which it is not. I thought it would be too "heavy" (again, the father-son stuff). It is not. And I thought it would be too cool, too self-aware, precious or "Iron John-ish." Anyway, let's forget what kind of film I thought I was going to see, because I never saw that film.

Chris and his father are gifted with the ability to be honest, intelligent and humorous all at once. After a few scenes with these two, I felt like I had met them before. Obviously I can't speak for everyone who's seen it, but I felt comfortable and familiar with Chris and Richard as people on the screen, and I feel that added to the success of the film for me.

"Pop" Richard is going through what "Me" Chris calls, a "mid-life crisis," where the elder Roe wishes to retrace the steps of his life, back to his "Golden Years," before the disillusionment of middle age set in, before his divorce and the great personal pain associated with it. Chris wants to travel and to make a movie about their trip. Richard suggests they make a film about fathers and sons throughout the world, and, there you go: instant (it took three years to make)documentary.

But as one viewer that was in attendance last night suggested, the "world" of monuments and cultures (all beautifully photographed, ranging from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Eiffel Tower to Tineman Square and everything else in between and beyond), of recognizable and famous places, soon becomes a pretty background to the more important stories within the film: those of fathers and sons attempting to bridge a gap created by time, age or culture.

And the gap between Chris and his father is noticed, then voiced, by Chris as the film progresses. He asks himself (and us), "Should I mention how I feel to Pop? Or, for fear of upsetting the applecart, keep it to myself?" With six days left of the six-month trip, he does at last tell his dad what he thinks about him.

There is a lot to enjoy in this film, and to be enjoyed on several levels. Like I said earlier, one could enjoy the film on a mere aesthetic level with the sound turned down, for in one way, it's a beautiful travelogue (and, if I understand correctly what Chris said last night, this was kind of what he had originally intended the film to be, a (as he said) "Gee, aren't we cool?" movie); on another level it's about Richard trying to accept what growing old means, what not being a father in the "traditional" sense means to him. And the film, in turn, is about Chris getting to know his dad, about Chris getting CLOSER to him, which, in some way, is realized at the end of the film, with father and son plunging together (with attached bunjee) off a bridge.

And finally, of course, the film is about fathers and sons talking and crying together. There are many wonderful scenes where the fathers shown speak from their hearts to their sons and vice versa. Perhaps BECAUSE of the camera, these men felt allowed to say what they felt about each other. There are many, many emotional scenes that seem very real to me, and this, ultimately, is what "made" the film for me: the honesty captured and portrayed in the film is rarely scene in regular feature films, or in most documentaries. Sure, both Chris and his dad are self-conscious (how could you not be, when making a film about yourself?), but this self-awareness is tempered by their humor (the Karate scene in the hotel room had me and a bunch of others laughing long and hard), their frustrations and very real (to me, anyway) observations. I think both Chris and Richard are great at speaking about themselves and others in a way that is candid without being exploitative.

In short (or long), the Roes have made a film about themselves without it seeming that way. There is an immediacy to the filmmaking that I look for in most documentaries and seldom find it. On a technical level, the editing is very sharp and superb (where no scene goes on too long, where EVERY scene seems imperative), and I feel is a major part of the film's success.

I seem unable to stop my praise for this movie! If any of what I've written strikes a chord with you, please seek this movie out. It will well be worth the effort, and it's only a minor misfortune that it was considered, but didn't qualify, for an Oscar nomination.

I didn't personally get to thank the two Roe's for their film, so...guys, if you're reading this, thank you! You've done a great service to any father and son who happen to come upon this in a video store, and who may be looking for a reason to talk and spend time together.

This film has the power to touch anyone who watches it. While titled Pop & Me, this film is about more than a relationship between father and son...it is about a relationship between parent and child. The film is a realistic and refreshing approach to the challenges we face not only from a parents perspective but from a childs as well. One can't help but draw correlations from Richard and Chris' struggles to those endured and played out in our own parent/child relationships. During the film I laughed...I cried...I laughed again...and then I cried again...and ultimately I smiled and wanted to rush home and call my parents! Richard Roe is an amazing man and his son is equally impressive. It is a unique and touching film that is well worth the watch. Whether you are a son or daughter, father or mother, old or young....you will relate and enjoy this film!!!

I've had the chance to see this documentary screened twice in public and now on DVD. It has an amazing effect on you. When I saw the world premere at the LA Independent Film Festival their was not a dry eye in the house. It captures the challenges and struggles of of a father son relationship as they seek to rebuild the bridge between them through a trip around the world which became the basis for this film. It is a deeply moving and inspiring journey which has plenty of lessons for us all. If you have ever struggled to build, repair or maintain a relationship of signifigance in your life you will identify with their journey. Perhaps most inspiring is their commitment to keep taking risks in the face of challenges many would walk away from. To Chris and his Dad I would say, "thanks for going there" and for taking all of us on this journey with you. We are all better human beings for it! I give this my highest recomendation!!!

Pop and Me has to be one of the most moving movie experiences that I have ever encountered. I wasn't sure what to expect when I rented it, but it is truly a classic to be treasured by all movies watchers. Richard and Chris Roe have made a completely honest, no holds barred movie that drives deep into the emotional heart of every person who watches. Run to the local Blockbuster and get this movie - you will not regret it for a second!

While living in LA I had the great pleasure of a private screening of the Video of Pop & Me with some friends and 'Pop' and I am eagerly waiting for the DVD.. The extra footage that is on the DVD for the Julian Lennon segment alone will be worth the price and then some.

This is a great story, part documentary, part true life narrative. The 'true' story comes out subtly as part of a background collage of experiences as two people travel the world and experience events from differing perspectives. The final climax is effortless, not contrived and very special.

This film for me was a real treasure, in my opinion it is a story that appeals to everyone and I must confess, made me cry and really appreciate my parents.

Pop and Me explores the intricate relationship between father and son using real people, not actors. The subjects are both famous and unknown but this complex relationship cuts through rich and poor, white, black and in between. Told in their own words, it is a glimpse into an area few talk about and even fewer understand. No father and no son will ever forget this movie. Mothers and daughters run, don't walk, to get a copy and gain an insight into this universal and yet unique bond.

Pop & Me is a movie worth watching. It is the story of a father and son who travel around the world and talk to other fathers and sons. Their relationship with one another is complicated - the film doesn't gloss over their problems. At the same time, you see love and growth in their relationships. The other fathers and sons they meet give a glimpse into other lives and cultures. Pop & Me is a valuable film - it shows humans as what we are - imperfect yet lovable, people who need our fathers and sons and mothers and sisters and children no matter what age we are.

The premise of this movie was great: travel around the world with your father and interview other father/sons about their relationship. Unfortunately, the father and son who did this appeared to have a crummy relationship, mainly due to the immaturity and selfishness of the father, Richard Roe.

A second premise of the movie addresses the emptiness sons feel when their fathers have deserted them. However it assumes that having a father present, even when he is not supportive or loving, is better than no father figure at all. This is not convincing. For all the "I love you's" from Mr. Roe to his son, his actions in the movie, and the DVD outtakes, show he was foul mouthed tyrant that had to control everything, leaving little regard for his son's input, and at one point in India, his son's health. The main point of contention centered around money (apparently Richard Roe had never heard of the word "allowance", but had to tightly control all expenditures).

The highlights of the movie are the interviews from around the world of fathers and their sons. The movie is worth seeing if just for these interviews. However, it is disappointing to discover in the credits at the end of the movie that many other father/son pairs were interviewed from other parts of the world, but they did not appear in the movie. Perhaps these other interviews were not as gripping as those presented, but I think they would have been more interesting then the petty interplay between the Roe's. The movie is worth seeing if just for these interviews.

We did not find it interesting. It could have been if it had spent more time exploring the cultures that they visited. The only good part was the end, but it certainly wasn't worth sitting through to get there.

I just finished watching the amazing film with my father. I admit, I bought this at Tower Records for the price of a Blockbuster rental, and judging from the cover this film could have gone either way. (The picture on the back of a topless Julian Lennon did nothing to impress me.) As it turns out this was the best six bucks I've spent all year.

This is a very touching film that examines the relationship between a father and son on a 6 month around-the-world trip. This film exemplifies why I prefer documentaries to the best Hollywood can produce. The moments of emotion in this film are underscored by the fact that they are honest and real. And the inspired way the filmmaker captures fathers and sons from around the world expressing their love for each other are juxtiposed by the sometimes rocky reltionship of the filmmaker and his own father, making this a very human and amazing film.