David (Simon Baker) is a married high school history teacher who loves his job and his wife Elaine (Frances O’Connor). Even though her free-spirited and often impulsive, childish attitude clashes with his more workaholic, controlled and responsible personality, they seem to be happy together.
Then they meet the 16-year-old high school student Chet (Gregory Smith), a smart teen with practically no one in his life, his age or otherwise. He’s fascinated by both, and is smitten by Elaine. And while David isn’t as stuck-up as he first appeared to be and doesn’t mind tagging the boy along to a bar, he sure as hell doesn’t see what might happen when his emotionally teenager wife is left alone with a teenager for too long…
*
Book of Love is a drama, no comedy involved. So please ignore the comedy tag on IMDB. It has its slow moments, but it is intriguing in a strange and humane way. Now, I’m not sure if I’d be tempted to ever write a story like this: A woman who cheats…just because where the husband is way too mature for her and just needs more spontaneity, combined with a teen who screws one friend and screws over the other.
There’s not really a moral to the story, especially if you are rooting for David – and I’m assuming anyone valuing romance and decency would do.
Yes, I can see the whole older woman appeal for the boy, but 16 is not supposed to be that young and stupid where you can’t realize:
a) you don’t sleep with a married woman
b) you don’t sleep with a friend’s wife
c) you don’t sleep with a married woman who is the wife of a friend.
And as for the woman:
a) you don’t cheat on your husband
b) you don’t sleep with a 16-year-old. Ever heard of the terms underage or statuary rape?
c) you don’t cheat on your perfectly nice husband with a 16-year-old.
Should you watch this movie?
I don’t really have a clue. It’s watchable, but depressing. It has some decent insights into the not-so-great parts of the human nature, but there are many movies that do that with either less depressing/more entertaining themes or with more significant and challenging storylines.
While I liked the movie somewhat, I don’t think I’d have watched it if Simon Baker hadn’t been in it. And yes, he is a good actor.
Maybe this movie is best combined with any episode of The Mentalist to enjoy the contrast and appreciate Baker’s talent once more.
Also on Simon Baker: All Posts Featuring Simon Baker
Simon Baker Trivia: 21 Facts About Australian Actor Simon Baker
Top Nine Aussies in The Entertainment World: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue and More
The Guardian TV Show starring Simon Baker
Posts featuring Simon Baker and The Mentalist
The Mentalist TV Series Review- Starring Simon Baker
Castle vs The Mentalist- Comparing the two addictive shows
Television’s 3 Most Brilliant, Emotionally Broken Men: Patrick Jane, Gregory House and Jack Bauer
Seven Famous Organization Acronyms From Television Featuring Ctu, Ncis, Csi and More