Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

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

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

luciphee The premise of this film shows promise, but the story that director Martin Weisz chooses to tell ends up being far more wish-fulfilling fairytale, and less an examination of youth on the streets, and the contrast to lives of the 1% living next door. Thomas Dekker and Gabriella Wilde are really just not substantial enough actors to bring any gravitas to the product. Dekker is way too over the top, and never strikes a note of authenticity. Wilde is incredibly lovely, and mostly vapid aside from a few sparks of life she manages in the 2nd half of the film. In fact, its probably better to speed through the first half of this film, because it picks up considerably in the second half. Probably because that's when far more competent actors show up to help carry in the film, i.e Dreyfuss, Davidovich, and Luke Grimes playing the way too perfect son that falls in love with Wilde. On a side note, did no one ever consider switching the roles for Dekker and Grimes? I suspect if they had, you still wouldn't have had a very good film, but I think you would've had a better one. Pro's like Dreyfuss and Davidovich do manage to strike some sympathetic notes as the rich couple who appear to have the perfect lives, but in reality, also are dealing with loss and heartache. And I found myself rooting for the happy ending in spite of my head telling me how ludicrous it was. Chalk that up to some nice chemistry between Wilde and Grimes. And, the film does have an interesting soundtrack, so it had that going for it.

zif ofoz I ask whoever may read this to please read the Larry Silverstein review titled 'Preposterous'. This writer is far more level headed in his review than I could ever hope to be.Everyone, EVERYONE, in this movie is just plain creepy. Even the story is creepy! We are suppose to believe two drugged out street urchins suddenly clean themselves up and are so pretty - no. The first giveaway was the pure white straight teeth and the fake smudges of fake dirt. And the rich folks clothes fit them perfectly! No! And the girl who in one scene is so drugged out she going to let herself be 'used' by 4 thugs. Then she watches a family video found in the fancy house and suddenly she has transformed into a meek virginal debutante who is ready to sacrifice her life for the 'nice rich family'. No! And then the rich families son falls in love with her and just happens to find her in the movie theatre - just silly.Even the underground drug lord was more like a comic book character. Honestly did Martin Weisz actually view the finished movie? I think not. And Richard Dreyfuss must be 'in need' to do that role as the ever-so-cool dad because he seemed ambivalent in every word he tried to speak.Bad movie, too long.

doug_park2001 Desperate, drug-addicted, and homeless, Kelly (Gabriella Wilde) and Jonas (Thomas Dekker) have a random stroke of luck and find themselves squatting in the lavish home of the wealthy Silvermans, who are vacationing in Greece. Jonas rationalizes that it should be their privilege to do this because rich people are all corrupt pigs anyway, but Kelly watches the Silvermans' home movies and finds them to be more tragically ordinary and human than Jonas will ever realize. Jonas gets a little too eager and greedy with the Silvermans' expensive jewelry and cars, arranging a lucrative deal with a dangerous racketeer, and to tell you any more would be spoilous.SQUATTERS is well-acted by just about everyone involved, with especially memorable performances by Wilde and Luke Grimes as Michael Silverman. Some other reviewers have criticized its Hollywood-slick portrayal of life's underside in L.A., and it could have shown a bit more sympathy in that area, but what it does show seemed pretty realistic to me. The general cinematography is excellent, with some really pretty south Cali scenery.On the other hand, the transformation that Kelly and Jonas make is pretty unconvincing, as are certain other things, e.g., Jonas's safe-cracking abilities, and wouldn't the maid be coming by occasionally? The ending's somewhat rushed plus a little too neat, easy, and Peter Pan for many tastes. Overall, it just seems that the directors and writers could have made a little more-in-general happen here.Still, SQUATTERS does have some interesting turnabouts and nice old morals to it. The fine acting and expert production help compensate for some of the basic flaws to the story, and I like the way it left me rooting for both Kelly/Jonas and the Silvermans.

pieeye-1 Whoever wrote this must have never left the suburbs. I've been homeless and never saw other homeless people walk around with a dirty face. You can't sleep on the beach in California. They make sure everyone is off the beach at 10:00 pm. They even have helicopters with searchlights overhead to make sure no one is hanging back.An amateur cracking a safe? Please. Next time you write a movie try to do a little research. They also find clothes that just fit them.This story has more holes in it than swiss cheese. I' sorry but the sloppy writing kept me distracted. I couldn't enjoy the movie. The acting was good. Too bad it wasn't enough.