GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Running With Scissors

Out Now On DVD

Sony Pictures


Growing up is hard as it is, but when you grow up in a family like the Burroughs it is even harder. Constant fighting amongst the family is nothing new here, it is just a everyday part of life for these people.

Deirdre Burroughs played by Annette Benning and her husband Norman played by Alec Baldwin are constantly at odds. There is no real reason for these people to hate each other so much, they just do.

Their gay son Augusten is caught in the middle of the madness. We see his life though his eyes and feel sorry for him. He wants to escape so badly from the world that he lives in. This is evident because his pain and emotion come across in almost every scene. Growing up can be tough no matter what your family and living situation is like.

The homosexuality of Augusten is handled well throughout the film. The relationship between him and an older man was not as believable as it could have been. I would have liked to see this explored in more detail.

There are some parts of the film that could have been cut out. It was almost two hours and this was just too long. The film has some very funny moments but there is also an element of sadness into the characters and their self-absorbed lives. This film is funny but also very emotional.

Marcus Richa