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Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher, Kathy Bates, Brian Markinson, Anna Mae Routledge ... see more see more... , Spencer Hudson

Ashton Kutcher stars as a broken man who sets off on a vengeance-filled search for his sister's murderer, only to fall into the arms of a gorgeous older woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) who may share the sam... read more read more...e torment in this romantic drama from Insight Studios. TV veteran David Hollander directs from his own script. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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38% liked it

18,858 ratings

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: David Hollander

Release Date: March 27, 2009

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DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009

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Stats: 602 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (602)


  • July 12, 2010
    Drama about Walter who is a professional wrestler. He returns home to console his mother and niece as his twin sister has been brutally raped and murdered. In a victims' support group he meets a mature women. Her husband was murdered and her deaf son has anger issues. They both h... read moreelp each other through their pain and issues. Good cast. Sad content.
  • June 20, 2010
    It has been awhile since a movie bummed me out as much as this did. Dare I say, I was kind of looking forward to this one. Yeah, Ashton Kutcher is no great actor, but he plays a certain type of character well, and quite a few of his have made it to my "guilty pleasure" list (Bu... read moretterfly Effect, Just Married, What happens in vegas. Not to mention being a fan of That 70's Show).
    This one however, while not technically a bad movie, was just depressing. Ashton acts will all the conviction of a chunk of wood here and the whole thing just falls flat. Even Michelle Pfeiffer, normally a good actress, is unmoving. While I had pity for both their characters, and understood that a film about dealing with death was never going to be a laugh fest, I just never expected it to be quite this bleak.
    I can't even say why it bummed me out that much. Sure it was bad, but it wasn't that bad, and I've seen films where way worse things happened yet still walked away uplifted or at least moved in some way.
  • November 22, 2009
    This was a very good movie. I liked it alot. Aston Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer had good acting in it. :)
  • September 28, 2009
    An interesting movie. About two families dealing with murders in their families, and sitting through the trials. The leading actors are Ashton Kutcher -- the first time I have seen him in a serious role and Michelle Pfieffer. They land up supporting each other. The images of ... read morea dark and depressing American town stand out as well.
  • May 30, 2009
    Personal Effects is a good drama starring Michelle Pfeiffer & Ashton Kutcher. This film really was the first of Ashton's that I could see a good dramatic side...good work! I am a fan of Michelle Pfeiffer's already so no having to sell me on her acting.

    Both people's lifes col... read morelide when both experience a signigant loved one's loss. They both join a support group and start to find that both have more in common than just the loss of a family member...this is a lovely drama worth seeing.
  • March 26, 2009
    Didn't particularly like this movie...it was as though I already knew what was going to happen.
  • April 3, 2011
    The film was so so. It kind of reminded me of the film, Reservation Road, but that film was much better than this one. The pacing was off. I could see this story being told as a 2 character play on stage. Michelle Pfeiffer does a great job in the film. Ashton Kutcher was ok in th... read moree role but another actor could have brought more to the role than him. Kathy Bates was great as usual in her supporting role. I thought the ending was predictable.
  • December 13, 2010
    Interesting movie with the much needed romantic chemistry of Ashton Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer...helped to move the both of them through a grief stricken roles for both actors. Ashton is back from his one chance to make it in the NCAA Wrestling team to have his goals cut short... read more due to the untimely murder of his sister. On the flip side, Michelle's world has problems with raising her deaf, short fueled very angry son. When Ashton intervenes in a bullying situation that Michelle"s son is involved in, he meets her and the two create a world that protects them from the problems they encounter. It is an absorbing yet interesting movie that shows the power of love when it is applied in delicate doses. See it this is a movie to remember.
  • November 20, 2009
    Michelle Pfeiffer is the mother of a deaf/mute son Clay (Spencer Hudson) who loses her husband to a violent death and becomes indirectly involved in the life of a young wrestler (Ashton Kutcher) who lost his sister to rape & a horrible death also. This movie highlights how the d... read moreeaths of our loved ones can affect those left behind and explores group therapy as a way of overcoming and coming to terms with our grief. Ashton Kutcher better known for his comedic roles and Getting Punked Gag Series is certainly different here. In this movie he gives up a career as a wrestler to return to the scene of the crime to mourn his sister and whilst being physically strong, his character was quite convincing as the bereaved emotionally sensitive brother. Kathy Bates play Kutcher's mom but she just has a minor participation in the film and I was expecting a lot more from her.

    Originally this movie was to be released at Christmas time 2009. Instead it went straight to DVD. Whilst it is not that great a movie, the performances by the leads are quite fine and I think this movie is well worth the time to watch.
  • January 26, 2010
    Personal effects is an excellent movie especially the relationship of Clay and Walter and of Walter and Linda. The Actors were great too. And the whole movie leaves you thinking about ... well anything touching our heart ... loss, love, grief, joy, success and so on. It wasn't t... read moreoo long nor too short. Ashton once again shows his desire for older women :-) Mrs. Pfeiffer played an outstanding mother and desperately love seeking women. And she is as beautiful as ever.

Critic Reviews


Don Willmott
June 25, 2009
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

Despite its R rating, Personal Effects will not go down in history as the movie in which Ashton Kutcher boinks Michelle Pfeiffer Full Review

Brian Orndorf
March 24, 2009
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

Ultimately, the material is much too delicate and screams out for a precise concentration that's beyond the professionals gathered here. And let's be honest, the material also could've benefitted from... Full Review

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Personal Effects Trivia


  • What affiction does Michelle Pfeiffer's son suffer from in Personal Effects?  Answer »
  • Postal 2007 Uwe Boll ever being the Ogre-Piggish tactician of offensive tasteless, vulgar, Qumquat that he is, declares that his movies, and Little Germany and his movies are funded by?   Answer »

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