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Christian Hamaker (Crosswalk) says this "light but satisfying meditation on despair, failure, and family ties proves to be an enjoyable two hours. … A film that dwells on the importance of parental influence and suggests that worldly pursuits can be empty has something to say. And hopefully a generationthat hasinherited an ethic of materialism and career 'fulfillment' … will be ready to hear it."

Cliff Vaughn (Ethics Daily) calls Crowe "one of the best writer-directors working in Hollywood. That's why Elizabethtown is both doubly disappointing and still understandable. Disappointing because it just never finds its rhythm, and understandable because Crowe isn't a cookie-cutter creator and misfires are the price his genius must pay."

Jonathan Wooten (Christian Spotlight) thinks the lead actor is part of the problem. "[Bloom] lacks the charisma necessary to carry a character-driven film. He and Kirsten Dunst do make a good on screen couple though, and this is a genuinely sweet love story. … Hopefully, like with Almost Famous, we will eventually be blessed with a different director's cut."

Andrew Coffin (World) writes that the film is "kind of a mess. The plot veers wildly from quiet, understated moments to over-the-top scenes that verge on parody. But Mr. Crowe still manages to tell an idiosyncratic story that deals affectionately with characters often marginalized by Hollywood."

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'A Certain Bit of Optimism'	Printer view
Director Cameron Crowe doesn't apologize for avoiding cynicism in his films, including his latest, Elizabethtown, which he says he hopes "encourages people to be truly alive."