Simon is utterly fantastic. I do find some of the plot unbelievable though.

One of the first scenes of the film is Dave and Elaine on the porch. He is working but interrupts that
in order to kiss her - and they pass an ice cube from mouth to mouth - not the act of a couple whose
sexual relationship has gone off the boil IMO. If Elaine is supposed to drool over a young boy just minutes
later in the film I think that Dave should've given her a quick peck and then carried on with his work. The
viewer might then understand why his wife appears frustrated.

The only sign of discord in their relationship appears when he corrects her grammar - other than that they
seem very happy. So why does she so easily allow herself to be jumped by Chet?

The classroom scenes are excellent. When Heather asks him if his wife is pretty and the photo scene - which made me laugh out loud. We see that Dave has daily temptation but easily resists - something his wife can't do.

The day after Elaine tells him Dave is late for school and has forgotten the relevant books. The few seconds where he swears and then looks at the class are magic, as is the terribly sad scene in the loo.

The scene where Chet visits Dave in school is another master class by Simon but again I found the story unbelievable - Dave was taken by surprise. If he had known Chet was coming perhaps he would've planned to still invite him on the Disney trip - to make Elaine uncomfortable - to try to get his own back on Chet - but he didn't have any time to plan and we are to believe that he went from "You ****** my wife" to "Let's all go to Disney" in about 4 minutes??

My very favourite scene is when Dave has been stabbed. The pipsqeak boy has told him that his wife doesn't want him any more and she didn't disagree. The pipsqueak has stabbed him (accidentally really) and his wife is just gawping at him. GAWPING. Simon portrays Dave's complete humiliation brilliantly. Oscar standard I reckon.

This could have been a brilliant film. IMO they should've left out references to Cambodia, left out the lesbian baby and provided more reasons why Elaine behaved as she did.

I mean. Look at the scenes with Gregory Smith and Simon. What sane woman wouldn't choose Simon?

Come on!!

At the beginning of the film - in the bathroom - I assumed they were vitamins - it just looked like his
bathroom routine. But after crying in the loo he took out what was now clearly a prescription bottle and
popped a pill or two. Why would that be in the film if it didn't mean something?

Is it supposed to help explain David's decision to quit teaching? That he really wasn't as happy in that
job as he outwardly seemed?

It's unexplained - along with those odd fish tank shots!

I've thought quite a lot about David & Elaine's relationship before the Chet thing. It seems to me that in all those 'intimate' scenes it is Elaine that is pro-active. David responds but he never initiates affection or physical contact. And I think that in itself can be pretty frustrating.

Personally, I like the fact that David became a father, because I desperately wanted him to find some level of happiness, but think that a 'happy ever after' relationship would have been too glib. David really wanted to be a father and I think the fact that he was able to have 2 children and play a central role in their lives must have brought him some contentment.

My take on the pills is that it was meant to help show that David was becoming a bit of a fuddy-duddy - like his expanding waistline and his baggy underpants, bless him.

Oh my, yes those pants. Shockers, LOL.