It's shit. Stunning failure.

Yeah, this was a mess and actually the first movie where I thought Lawrence's performance was rather shaky. Big disapointment.

I actually went to go see this theatrically both because it was playing a block from me and also because at the end of the day this is a movie starring two of my favorite actors and I thought it deserved more than watching it on VOD. Unfortunately, the critics are mostly right. This movie is a mess. It's not unwatchable and I actually thought for the most part Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were very good. The problem is the script gives them absolutely nothing to work with. Their courtship in the film literally lasts for 30 seconds so you're never given a chance to care about them or their relationship - making the dramatic stakes almost nonexistent. The movie continuously moves along at this odd pace - it's never really clear what is going on and feels choppy. The entirety of the Serena pregnancy plotline is all over the place, particularly when it turns her into a Lady Macbeth esque figure in the second half. Rhys Ifans and Ana Ularu are awful in the movie's most significant supporting roles. It really isn't the actors' faults that this is such a mess as it is the director, who clearly has no idea what she's trying to do with this movie, and the undercooked screenplay. Also, the musical score is so overbearing that it becomes distracting. It does have its moments because Cooper and Lawrence are such magnetic screen presences - they both look great and are very easy to watch, and there are some nice bits of cinematography. I was going to be a tad more generous with my grade until the absolutely ridiculous and unintentionally hilarious final 10 minutes, which are so overbearing with their symbolism that it's honestly nauseating. I saw one review that described this as Cold Mountain without the energy of Renee Zellweger added in and I'd say that's accurate. It just feels lifeless and more like a missed opportunity than anything else. This won't be a career-killer for anyone involved but it could have been much better. C

That actually really undersells Cold Mountain, which is a really good film even without Zellweger. Serena has none of its sweeping sope, its great score, its beautiful cinematography etc. etc.

Not bad for about an hour. Then Serena loses her baby and somehow the movie somehow becomes extremely dull and Lawrence's performance resorts to letting "crazy eyes" represent her feelings. Maybe in a melodrama that could've worked, but Serena takes itself way too seriously.

** (C)

I liked it. I mean, it is a bit of a mess despite two really good performances by the leads. But I thought it was interesting and a nice looking film. I just found it poorly edited. This was most evident in the beginning. The first half hour felt a bit sloppily put together. Not as good as it could have been considering the talent involved but not as bad as I'd heard.

7/10 (B-)