Little Children

Little Children

Stereotype heaven comes to life in this film as 2-dimensional characters plod their way through a sea of thick, syrupy melodrama. There’s the dumpy female Lit student (it’s sad to watch Kate Winslet attempting to inhabit a physically unattractive character) who’s trapped in a boring marriage, wasn’t ready for motherhood, and her husband’s idea of intimacy is a bit lacking. Then there’s the neighbourhood house-husband-hunk who oh-so-unconsciously yearns for the glory of his youth, while his gorgeous wife keeps their child in the matrimonial bed and writes clever little notes to reinforce the emasculation. Neither of these couples seem the least bit affectionate or communicative; it’s a wonder how they ever got together and made the children. Of course, the two perfectly immature protagonists get hooked up in lustful adultery faster than one can say ‘naptime’.

The wonderfully obvious subplot of the movie features a staged, drawn-out conflict between a supposed sex offender and a damaged former police officer. The purported pedophile is the most fully drawn character in the film, as the actor manages to lend an ample amount of creepy pathos to the role. The ex-cop, unfortunately, is reduced to a caricature of depression and self-abuse, as he desperately seeks out friendship in the coldness of suburbia, and alternatively acts out in childishly-violent ways. Like the pedophile, of course, in his own pathetic manner...

It is the extended character epiphanies that insult the most. The ex-cop finds his heart amidst the regret. Sarah discovers that she doesn’t know her lover all that well, and that she does love her daughter after all - although it’s not clear why bringing her daughter back to the dismal home life would be considered a successful resolution. Patrick’s concussive epiphany is more ridiculous - he finds the rational path at the wrong end of a skateboard. The pedophile final act is the most fitting, although somewhat stomach-turning; it was foreshadowed well but not completely telegraphed.