Cheap The Sum of Us (DVD) (Jack Thompson, Russell Crowe) (Geoff Burton, Kevin Dowling) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of The Sum of Us

In any case, I was lucky enough to rent this video a couple of years ago, before it was stolen from my local video store and never replaced. What a delightful surprise it turned out to be. "Sum of Us" is, at it's heart, the story of a boy and his dad. Jeff (Crowe) is looking for love in Sydney's gay bar scene. He desperately wants someone with whom he can share his life, have a beer with, cuddle up to... "Is that too much to ask?" His father, Harry (Jack Thompson), doesn't think so. He desperately wants his son to be happy, and to find true love.

Much of the film is hilarious, due in large part to Harry's keen interest in his son's sex/love life, and his openness to discussing it in front of other people. Harry is too supportive, you see, to the point of embarrassing Jeff beyond all hope. The young man whom Jeff fancies is not accustomed to such candor. In fact, he is keeping his own homosexuality a secret from his judgemental father. In the meantime, Harry is looking for love himself, now that he's nearing retirement, which causes its own comedy and drama.

In "Sum of Us", Crowe and Thompson break the fourth wall, and speak directly to the audience. This actually works for this film--it does not distract the viewer or take them out of the story. In fact, I felt the same little thrill one does when hearing a good piece of gossip. These little asides to the audience also contribute greatly to the humor. But it's not all fun and games. Jeff is a very sensitive young man, who's been deeply hurt by lovers in the past. Jeff wears his heart on his sleeve, and all of his insecurity, excitement, disappointment, longing, and adoration play across Crowe's face in a heartbreaking, uninhibited performance.

Thompson plays off Crowe perfectly, and vice versa. Their relationship is completely believable--you would think that they really were father and son. Getting on each other's nerves, pushing each other's buttons, knowing each other's weaknesses. This is a relationship rarely seen on screen--a close, loving, warm relationship between a parent and child. Dysfunctional family relationships are more volatile, dynamic, and therefore more dramatic in the minds of most screenwriters--normal people are boring. Jeff and Harry are anything but boring, and they take the viewer right along with them. You'll find yourself caring deeply about both Harry and Jeff, hoping, hoping, hoping that everything will work out for each of them in the end. This is a very engaging story, due in large part to the performances of Crowe and Thompson, and the chemistry between the two.

Don't miss it. I just purchased a used copy from, and it was worth it. This is a movie that I'm sure I'll watch over and over again, the kind of movie you dust off once a year and discover something new about it each time.

A true love story
Just in time for Father's Day, the release of this charming film
is appropriate. It's a love story about a father and son. The father is a passionate and caring man who has raised a very good son. The son happens to be gay and this bothers the father not a wit. He is like a doting parent who hopes his son finds "Mr. Right".
The story line at times is a bit hackneyed and sappy, but the warmth between father and son overcome any faults with the script.
The real success of this film is in the performance of Jack Thompson as the father and Russell Crowe as the son. Released in 1994, this was Crowe's big break and he had to fight to get the part. He gives a very funny and tender performance.
John Polson and Deborah Kennedy give admirable performances as Crowe's boyfriend and Thompson's fiancee respectively.
It's a feel good movie and I highly recommend it.

Review of "The Sum of Us" by Cheri
"The Sum of Us" is a beautiful story about the unconditional love between a widowed father, Harry (Jack Thompson), and his openly gay son, Jeff (Russell Crowe). The movie shows a rare glimpse of a father's acceptance and willingness to try and understand his son's sexuality. When Jeff has a date, Harry is there to make sure his son practices safe sex, and when Harry has a stroke, Jeff is there to assume sole responsibility for his care, preparing his meals, helping him get around, and taking care of all his needs. They may drive each other crazy at times, but their unselfish acts of love for each other are heartwarming without being sickeningly sweet. I love this movie because it is honest, funny, wonderfully acted, hopeful, and real. Russell Crowe gives a brilliant performance early in his career. He is so believable you forget you are watching a movie. Jack Thompson is perfectly cast as his father. He is warm and funny. I recommend this movie to anyone that has ever loved or has ever been in love. It is a feel good movie. If you have trouble with the thick Australian accent, you can always use the subtitles.