• Fireflies in the Garden (2011)

    Successful novelist Michael (Ryan Reynolds) visits his family in the Midwest, only to learn that his mother, Lisa (Julia Roberts), has died in a tragic accident. Along with his father, Charles (Willem Dafoe), a college professor, and his sister, Ryne (Shannon Lucio), Michael attempts to come to terms with his grief. Lisa's absence revives many old wounds, however, and the emerging tensions threaten to destroy the family just as they make an effort to come together and mourn.

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Fireflies in the Garden
34
metacriticBased on 14 Critics
78
Based on 12 Users

Release Date: October 14th, 2011

DVD Release Date: February 7th, 2012

R |1 hr 38 min

Plot Summary

Successful novelist Michael (Ryan Reynolds) visits his family in the Midwest, only to learn that his mother, Lisa (Julia Roberts), has died in a tragic accident. Along with his father, Charles (Willem Dafoe), a college professor, and his sister, Ryne (Shannon Lucio), Michael attempts to come to terms with his grief. Lisa's absence revives many old wounds, however, and the emerging tensions threaten to destroy the family just as they make an effort to come together and mourn.

Cast: Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Ioan Gruffudd, Hayden Panettiere, Cayden Boyd

Director: Dennis Lee

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Senator Entertainment

Keywords: Family , Husband , Wife , Son , Moving , Transformation , Daughter , Love , Emotional , 2000s , Growing up

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 40
    Kirk HoneycuttThe Hollywood Reporter

    Dennis Lee comes up empty. Kids, parents, siblings, an aunt and an estranged wife all bicker and yell, but the noise cancels itself out. The movie is one long argument, tiresome and repetitive, that produces more heat than light. show more

  • 75
    Mick LaSalleSan Francisco Chronicle

    Instead of concealing it, I'll just come out and say that I find it difficult to be enthusiastic about this well-acted and gracefully directed movie, but for reasons that might be called philosophical. show more

  • 50
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    The screenplay shows signs of being inspired by personal memories that still hurt and are still piling up in Michael's mind. Fair enough, but the film doesn't sort this out clearly, and we experience vignettes in search of a story arc. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com