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Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, Lou Taylor Pucci, Olivia Thirlby, Kat Dennings ... see more see more... , Tony Hale , Nora Dunn , Annie Corley , Max Antisell , Thomas Roy , Peter Patrikios , Greg Wood , Richard Lyntton , Richard Barlow , Sally Mercer , Lauren Jacobs , David Mulholland , Charlie Corrado , Bev Appleton , Sylvia Kauders , Sandra Landers , Ginny Graham

The reclusive author whose groundbreaking book redefined spirituality for an entire generation realizes how little he actually knows upon being approached by a single mother and a recovering addict in... read more read more... this drama from first time writer/director John Hindman. It's been 20 years since Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels) penned "Me and God," and the inspirational, soul-searching book is still as popular as ever. Anyone who reads it thinks that Arlen has all the answers to life's problems, but these days the author barely ventures outside of the house. Then, one day, Arlen crosses paths with Elizabeth (Lauren Graham), a single mother struggling to raise her seven-year-old son, and Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci), a young man who has just gotten out of rehab. Both are searching for the answers that will help them to become better people while overcoming their fears of failure. Does Arlen possess the wisdom to help Elizabeth and Kris work through their current problems, or is he really as clueless as he's been feeling for the last two decades? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

43% liked it

22,438 ratings

Critics

30% liked it

43 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: John Hindman

Release Date: July 24, 2009

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DVD Release Date: November 3, 2009

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Stats: 412 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (412)

  • moonrivers
    April 3, 2012
    moonrivers
    A soft spoken and fine romantic comedy about a guy who wrote a what becomes a best-selling novel about talking to God and now lives in tremulous fear that his legions of fans will discover him a fraud ... until he meets a woman who changes his life. Fine performances tie togethe... read morer this family friendly (except for the occasional slipped oath) and well written story of redemption through trusting ... people.
  • romy861
    January 1, 2011
    romy861
    Nice little movie. I enjoyed it. Nothing amazing happens in it, but it is very watchable and has a great cast including Lauren Graham and Lou Taylor Pucci.
    The lives of a few people cross including a chiropractor (Lauren Graham), a grumpy writer (Jeff Daniels) and a guy recent... read morely out of rehab (Lou Taylor Pucci). All are dealing with issues in their day to day lives. Funny and moving.
  • hellogoodby
    May 2, 2010
    hellogoodby
    I'm usually very scepticle of my mothers taste in movies, but she insisted I watch this movie. The plot is interesting, but it stole many elements from "As Good as it Gets". The story revolves around a writer who became famous for writing a book about how he could talk to God and... read more the answers he got, a chiropractor who loves her son more then anything in the world, and the alchoholic owner of a book store who is struggling through hard times and just needs answers. If you're at the movie store with your girlfriend, and you see it there, and they have no copies of "{500} Days of Summer" left, get this movie. I almost cried at the end. Thats saying a lot because I have only cried watching 5 movies in my life. The very best part of this film though, is the answers. The book store owner makes a deal with the writer to take books for answers to questions. The answers that this writer comes up with are the best answers to questions I've ever heard. This film may be recycled material, but the thinking is fresh. If you need to watch a movie that makes you think, rent this movie.
  • LWOODS04
    January 10, 2010
    LWOODS04
    JEFF DANIELS, LAUREN GRAHAM, LOU TAYLOR PUCCI, KAT DENNINGS, MAX ANTISELL, OLIVIA THIRLBY, NORA DUNN

    Everyone wants to meet Arlen Faber, the world famous author of the best-selling spiritual book "Me and God", but crotchety, disgruntled Arlen simply wants to be left alone - an... read mored so far he's been successful in keeping his identity a secret. But all that changes when troubled bookstore owner Kris Lucas discovers his home address and barters books for Arlen's words of wisdom, and a back injury leads the reclusive writer to begin dating chiropractor and overprotective single mother Elizabeth. As Arlen's relationships with his new-found friends begin to grow, he must come to terms with his past and the realization that he doesn't hold all the answers.
    No matter how knowledgeable anyone appears, they don't know it all and no one has all the answers. Really liked this film a lot. Read some comments stating its a romantic comedy. I disagree. Nothing really romantic at all about this film. A bit of a love story, yes. Really falls under the category of a 'dark dramedy'. It's mainly about three different people who lives somehow get intertwined with each others, and how they come from their new found relationships changed. It's a smart, honest film that wasn't predictable. Which is always refreshing. Really enjoyed the movie. Hope more see it. Loved Jeff Daniels in this movie. Always gives an honest performance. These characters are believable and relatable. They all deal with everyday issues. Just really glad I found this one. Lauren Graham was good, and I really thought Lou Taylor Pucci did a great job as well. When the little boy, Alex, asks Arlen (Jeff Daniels) 'how long is two weeks?', it made so sad for him. If or when you watch the movie you will know why. Anyways, great watch, definitely recommend it.
  • dreamfaeries
    December 10, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    I thought it was kind of cute, but not top notch. Great cast, though not at their best acting degrees. No matter what, I LOVE LAUREN GRAHAM so everything is all good...
  • gator681
    September 3, 2010
    gator681
    In "The Answer Man," Dahlia(Kat Dennings) misplaced the key to the bookstore where she works for the 27 days her boss, Kris(Lou Taylor Pucci), had been in rehab. Due to this unfortunate chain of events, they have no cash to buy books from Arlen Faber(Jeff Daniels), an insanely f... read moreamous writer of "Me and God," who has become a recluse because he does not want to answer stupid questions all the time and the idea of heading a cult is not appealing to him. In the process of lugging the books around, he throws out his back, leaving him paralyzed on the floor of his house. If his long-suffering agent Terry(Nora Dunn) had her way, his remains would be found there thousands of years in the future by extraterrestrials. Luckily, he regains enough movement to crawl on his hands and knees to the neighborhood chiropractor, Elizabeth(Lauren Graham, forever cursed to play single mothers).

    "The Answer Man" wastes a valuable opportunity to poke fun at self help books by instead taking a touchy-feely approach. Yes, we all need a group hug but there's nothing wrong with a little cynicism, either. And the opening was promising with one of the spinoffs being titled "Me and God for Atheists"(that does not mean I would ever read such a book, though) and Faber revealed to be a misanthropic bastard.(As his friendly mailman(Tony Hale) puts it, he may have written his book but never read it.) However, that is about it for any intelligent thought until a moment of clarity that comes much too late. All of which a good cast(yes, even including Nora Dunn) can do little with. Come to think of it, Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham do make for a rather strange couple.
  • SC007
    July 3, 2011
    SC007
    Great film. Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham shine in this film. Also good supporting work from Lou Taylor Pucci, Olivia Thirlby, and Kat Dennings. I definitely recommend this film.
  • panta2
    November 10, 2009
    panta2
    John Hindmanwith his debut film THE ANSWER MAN is coming very close to another Jeff Daniels movie - The Squid and the Whale, but with no punch! Lauren Graham (?Gilmore Girls?) gives us her best but there is still a lot to be desired. The movie is interesting to watch and there is... read more no boring bits. I think it is much better to watch it on DVD then spending money on the big screen.
  • fb25827189
    March 11, 2011
    fb25827189
    I really enjoyed the movie! I don't know why it scored so low with critics, the acting is great and the story is really good.
  • trisarahtops22
    July 11, 2010
    trisarahtops22
    I was horribly disappointed. Usually I love Jeff Daniels. I thought this would be more of a critical look at people blindly following and worshiping someone they think has a connection with "God", but it turned out to be romantic comedy drivel with a predictable ending.

View All The Answer Man (Arlen Faber) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
August 6, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

How much more interesting is a film like (500) Days of Summer, which is about the complexities of life, in comparison with this one, which cheerfully cycles through the cliches. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
July 31, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The Answer Man is a perfect example of an Intelligent Bad Movie, easy to take, promising along the way ... And then things start to go wrong. Full Review

Duane Byrge
July 29, 2009
Duane Byrge, Hollywood Reporter

An unpretentious, subtle story of one man's redemption.

Ben Mankiewicz
July 27, 2009
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

You have a likable cast, an engaging enough story with a few moments of both humor and emotional honesty. Full Review

Ben Lyons
July 27, 2009
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

It almost felt like the characters weren't really reciting dialogue that came from them but rather just simply memorizing it off the script. Full Review

Glenn Whipp
July 24, 2009
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times

Daniels' Faber can be a curmudgeon one moment and a charmer the next, and it's hard to accept the notion that Graham's level-headed gal wouldn't instantly see through his act and show him the door. Full Review

Joe Neumaier
July 24, 2009
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

This two-bit echo of The Accidental Tourist is a preachy pill that wastes the genial, funny Jeff Daniels and the criminally underused Lauren Graham. Full Review

Kyle Smith
July 24, 2009
Kyle Smith, New York Post

I could see the sparks flying, but they were being generated by my back teeth. Full Review

Peter Rainer
July 24, 2009
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

A promising premise and some very good actors are smothered in goo in The Answer Man. Full Review

Claudia Puig
July 24, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The implausible Answer Man offers little clarity but plenty of far-fetched scenarios and credibility-defying coincidences. Full Review

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