The Favor (2006)

39% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(106 ratings)

Following up the acclaimed documentary Children of the Street, filmmaker Eva Aridjis made her narrative-feature debut with this bittersweet drama starring Frank Wood and Ryan Donowho. Wood plays Lawrence, a man who decides to take in Johnny (Donowho), the troubled teenaged son of his recently… More Following up the acclaimed documentary Children of the Street, filmmaker Eva Aridjis made her narrative-feature debut with this bittersweet drama starring Frank Wood and Ryan Donowho. Wood plays Lawrence, a man who decides to take in Johnny (Donowho), the troubled teenaged son of his recently deceased high-school sweetheart. Twenty-five years ago, Caroline (Paige Turco) broke Lawrence's heart. These days, Lawrence is a single, middle-aged photographer leading a quiet life with his loyal canine companion in Bayonne, NJ. When Lawrence receives a surprise phone call from a recently divorced Caroline, romantic feelings are rekindled and his life suddenly takes on new meaning. Unfortunately, a life with Caroline wasn't in the cards for Lawrence, because shortly after the high-school sweethearts reconnect, Caroline dies in a sudden and tragic accident. Now, in order to prevent Carlone's troubled 16-year-old son, Johnny (Donowho), from being placed in foster care, Lawrence adopts the boy and tries his hardest to be a caring father. But Johnny wants nothing to do with Lawrence, instead choosing to follow in his biological father's footsteps by becoming a petty criminal and constructing an impenetrable wall of anger and silence. It seems that the only person capable of breaking through to Johnny is Mariana (Isidra Vega), a pretty neighborhood girl with whom the boy forms a warm bond. In time, Johnny begins to realize that Lawrence is a respectable role model and caring father figure who is willing to make the sacrifices needed for him to have a brighter future. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Eva S. Aridjis, Eva Aridjis
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: May 2, 2008 Wide
Studio: Seventh Art Releasing

Critic Reviews

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
It is a flawed but intriguing film that promises better things to come from its filmmaker.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
While people looking to get away from the big explosions and broad comedy that accompany most summer movies will appreciate the effort, this seems like the kind of thing you should be getting for free on TV.
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
The Favor is that rare film that at every turn exhibits good taste and a sense of restraint.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
A dreary, interminable drama written and directed by Eva Aridjis, is exactly one-third of a good movie.
Vadim Rizov, Village Voice
As an unconscious parody of everything that's wrong with Indiewood, Eva Aridjis's The Favor is brilliant. Otherwise, it's an unwatchable nightmare that brought back bad memories of NYU screenwriting classes.
Joshua Katzman, Chicago Reader
This accomplished and economical debut feature (2006) is refreshingly free of gimmicks, focusing squarely on the hero's awkward attempts to forge a relationship with the petulant teenager.
Michele Kenner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Nothing extraordinary happens, and [director] Aradjis relies on Wood and Donowho to carry the slight thread of a film.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Yet another small, "sensitive" character study of unassuming "little" folk trying their best under trying circumstances, all amounting to the purest banality.
John Tottenham, L.A. Weekly
The Favor ultimately takes itself too seriously and ends up stranded in an unconvincing no man's land of cute bleakness.
Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com
Forgive me if I've already forgotten what The Favor is really about, but the truth is so does Miss Aridjis. So drastically in fact, that the film doesn't even qualify for After School Special exemption status.
Hank Sartin, Time Out New York
Writer-director Eva Aridjis has a flat style that's frankly numbing; Wood tries valiantly, but he and Donowho are both dragged down by the script.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Doesn't ever end up communicating anything other than its own capacity for sensitive understatement.
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
A tearjerker made credible by the director's patient pacing.
Jamie Tipps, Film Threat
Overall, the film is alternately sweet and sad, amusing and moving.
Eric D. Snider, eFilmCritic.com
It's an emotionally satisfying film, even a cathartic one, that deserves an audience.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
All Aridjis can muster is inert drama and trite lessons.