UNLIMITED STREAMING
WITH PRIME VIDEO
TRY 30-DAY TRIAL
Home > Drama >

Jackie & Ryan

Jackie & Ryan (2015)

July. 03,2015
|
5.9
|
PG-13
| Drama Family

A modern day train hopper fighting to be a successful musician and a single mom battling to maintain custody of her daughter defy their circumstances by coming together in a relationship that may change each others lives forever.

...

Watch Trailer

Cast

Similar titles

Reviews

Lucybespro
2015/07/03

It is a performances centric movie

More
Cleveronix
2015/07/04

A different way of telling a story

More
Afouotos
2015/07/05

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

More
Ava-Grace Willis
2015/07/06

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

More
Mary
2015/07/07

I can't say that I liked this movie. The philosophy of the creators seemed way too superficial to me: live your life from moment to moment, don't worry about the past only look to the future, and blame "the system" for everything. The underlying commentary on how poor struggling people are exploited and crushed by the system is recurrent : Ryan's friend "the Cowboy" has just had a baby with Virginia, who he abandons for a couple of days, just to "breathe a little" : he got angry and frustrated after the baby was born because there was not enough money (he felt small and powerless in front of something so much bigger than him, says Virginia, the mother of his child, who justifies his frustration). The song "Down on Penny's Farm" that Ryan and Jackie sing at various occasions (Jackie chooses this particular song to express her frustration about her rich husband threatening to claim full custody of her daughter) is clearly a song about exploitation. And Jackie has to sell all her jewelry and her house in order to fight her very rich husband whose money allow him to do whatever he wants. So the rich do what they want and crush down poor people- that's the theme of the movie. Somehow it's not convincing. Especially when the characters are not people who never had a choice or a chance in life, but independent, strong, talented and were capable to turn their lives any direction they wanted in many occasions in their past.Apart from blaming the system, the characters do not seem willing to reflect on the consequences of their own choices, and that is presented by the filmmakers as something rather positive. Jackie is tormented by questions about past choices, but Ryan convinces her she should only ask "where do I want to go next and how will I get there". Virginia never asks herself if they should have made sure they had enough money to raise the baby before having it.. There's no need to reflect on the past, or draw lessons from past experiences, because it's all the system's fault.... I really didn't like this irresponsible, adolescent approach to life. Live your life moment to moment and blame others for exploiting and crushing you... I'm not saying that people should punish themselves for their irresponsible past choices, but realizing how you contributed to finding yourself in your present situation can be useful. Plus, reflecting on the past does not exclude working on building the future. You can do both ! But as an adult, you need to realize which choices worked and which didn't. Because in real life there are no miraculous solutions, as in this film. You don't just open the door to a stranger one day during a stressful divorce and fall madly in love with them, you don't get the super expensive guitar you're dreaming of as a gift from someone who wants nothing back, etc. Apart from defending irresponsibility and anger towards the rich and powerful, what this film also promotes is a belief in miraculous solutions that set everything straight out of the blue. Some sort of "deus ex machina" appears out of nowhere to deliver the characters and not their own wisdom and efforts based on lessons from past experience. If only it were so in real life....

More
Saarah N
2015/07/08

Love me like you do follows two individuals, Jackie and Ryan, as they deal with the struggles of life. Jackie tends to reflect on her life, her past, what brought her there and the choices she has made, whilst Ryan is all about going forward, where next? Ryan is the good-natured, young, traveller. Jackie is a stuck-at-home single mother. They both share a passion for music, Jackie has lived the dream, it didn't go well. Ryan has yet to pursue his, he's patiently seeking it out. What happens when their paths cross? Simple, they help each other. They believe and inspire one another: Jackie inspires Ryan to write his own songs, to be an original. Ryan helps Jackie to move on, and to believe in herself. This was another thing I liked, as well as how the characters are able to be independent of one another- there is none of that all too common mourning, clinging behaviour. They are accepting of one another, especially in the case of Jackie- she understands Ryan and his travelling, train hopping habits. She is strong, she can survive without him. This is a powerful message, which Katherine delivered exceptionally. Do Jackie and Ryan fall in love? That, I'm afraid, is an answer best left to interpretation. I'd like to think they do but, just as easily, they could be passers by in one another's lives, a friendly encounter. This film is so very endearing, Katherine Heigl has always been a favourite of mine, she's such a great actress, her smile, alone, can win her any part. She was very fitting for this role, and there was definitely on screen chemistry between her character and Ryan. A good pair, but I felt their relationship (on-screen) would be better off platonic. The casting choices were a success, even the child actress (played by Emily Alyn Lind) was far from the usual irritating, annoying, cheerful child. It was real, and I loved it. The country themed music (my favourite genre) was beautifully reflective. Before watching this film, I had some reservations- in the end, I watched it because of Katherine Heigl (of course!). Initially, I had thought this would be a romantic comedy, I'm not against those at all, but it was still a pleasant surprise to discover this was different. It wasn't very drama filled, nor was it comedic (at all), I'd have to say it was one of those self discovery type of films, it was very similar to Before we go (starring Chris Evans) I wouldn't watch it again, but only because I feel as though the novelty of the film would no longer exist.Now for what I didn't like: Jackie was portrayed to be sensible in the rest of the film, but she invites a stranger into her home, said home also houses her child and her mother. It was a ridiculous idea, he may have helped her but that doesn't make him any less of a stranger.Another thing is that Jackie was fighting to maintain parental custody of her child, this is a difficult fight for her but it's not too clear if she succeeds. There is no celebration and it did seem a lost case but...I don't like this being left to interpretation.Another thing I didn't like was Jackie's prior romantic relationship (with her soon to be ex husband) as there was no explanation for its failure. I suppose I like knowing everything, my curiosity was unsatisfied, that's all.

More
stephaniedanyelle
2015/07/09

This movie follows two people who live opposite lives, but their love of music brings them together. In the end, you don't know how he ends up. Does he get his record deal? Does she get custody? What happens? I don't like movies that leave things opened ended for you to guess. I like answers. Also, there's not very much acting. There is a lot of music playing, a lot of staring, a lot of long pauses where you are starting at the characters doing nothing for a period of time. With Katherine being a main character, I expected more. This is certainly not one of her top films at all. A lot of "folk" music. All in all, I wouldn't watch it twice.

More
David Ferguson
2015/07/10

Greetings again from the darkness. Complexity of characters, action sequences and plot twists are so common in movies these days that a simple story told in a straight-forward manner can catch us a bit off-guard. Such is the case with this latest from writer/director Ami Canaan Mann (Michael Mann's daughter, and known for Texas Killing Fields).A romantic drama usually leans heavily on the strength of its leads, and the teaming of Katherine Heigl and Ben Barnes normally wouldn't instill much hope. Don't expect this one to linger in your thoughts much after you have left the theatre, but most will find it pleasant enough to watch … if for no other reason than the interesting songs written by Nick Hans and sung by Barnes. And yes, Heigl sings a bit too … but not much considering her character supposedly had a successful singing career in years gone by.There is an air of familiarity to the story as Barnes plays a free-willed musician who travels by train and performs in the streets of the towns he visits. Circumstances occur that bring Barnes and Heigl together, and soon enough romance is in the air. Heigl and her daughter (Emily Alyn Lind) live with her mom (Sheryl Lee), and Barnes hangs around for awhile to fix the roof … and other things. Indie favorite Clea DuVall has a small role that adds a bit of interest, but mostly this one hinges on Barnes and Heigl.If you are one of the many who have grown tired of Heigl's big screen career, you might be a bit surprised here as she struggles to raise her daughter while going through a nasty divorce. Barnes has also done little (since his posturing in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) to lead up to his more gritty and somewhat likable role. Again, not much here will stick, but it's pleasant enough to watch.

More