Barbara Streisand, who I have been a fan of for decades, not only her singing but her acting and when I got word she would be starting in a film with Seth Rogan, I shrugged it off, feeling a bit disappointed. But last night, I rented the film Guilt Trip, cleverly titled and I have to say I was utterly amused and entertained, silly as the film may be.
Although, writing credit goes to Dan Fogleman, I feel like Streisand and Rogen’s characters ad-libbed or improvised the entire dialogue. See these are the little things I focus on in the film. The fact the dialogue sounded so natural it was almost improvised and maybe it was. We will never know unless we speak to the actors and writer himself.
The best thing about a film with Streisand is, no matter what, you find yourself laughing. Maybe because of her high pitched voice, or silliness or facial expressions, but any way you turn you laugh. The only other thing I couldn’t get over is, how much Jennifer Aniston looks like Barbara Streisand.
Anyway, aside from all the frivolous details, the story is about an overly nurturing mother and her son, bonding over the course of a week spent driving across America, while the son pitches his invention to impressionable companies nearly running this country (US). In terms of consumer goods and what we should and shouldn’t buy. During the week, we learn how similar mother and son are and what sets them apart. The conversation touches up on love, family, tradition, and most of all nostalgia. It’s a cute story and given the fact, Streisand seems to have made a comeback, I’d see anything she makes.
