A.C.O.D - B-

Rated R, 87 minutes

Charming "A.C.O.D." a sharp look at family dyfunction


Adam Scott

Whether or not you are divorced or come from a divorced family, you'll still get a kick out of the amusing, witty new comedy "A.C.O.D," which stands for Adult Children of Divorce. Though imperfect as its characters, with a stellar cast and some pointed comical observations, there's plenty to like here. Carter (Adam Scott) is a well-adjusted Adult Child of Divorce. So he thinks. When he discovers he was part of a divorce study as a child, it wreaks havoc on his family and forces him to face the chaos of his past as his younger brother's (Clark Duke) wedding threatens to actually bring his divorced parents (Catherine O'Hara and Richard Jenkins) together again. Directed and written by Stu Zicherman, who as a real A.C.O.D. should know something about the subject, it's a little sketchy and nothing new, but Scott and a superb comical cast, including Jane Lynch, O'Hara, Jenkins, Duke, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Scott's "Parks and Recreation" co-star Amy Poehler make the material better, delivering some sharp dialogue that would please Christopher Guest ("Best in Show"). Scott, best known for his warm appeal on TV's "Parks and Recreation," grounds the film with a sensible, voice-of-reason appeal that's he known for; O'Hara and Jenkins are a nutty delight as is Lynch, though it would've been nicer to see more of the underused Poehler and Winstead and less of the generally unfunny Duke. "A.C.O.D." chases too many rabbits in its last act in a sitcom-y way, needlessly gathering all the cast members together for some random silliness, but Zicherman ends it on a brave note for something like this. The delightful "A.C.O.D." doesn't shed much light on the subject (except for the memorably profane nickname given Poehler's stepmother character), but you'll find some generous laughs from a winning cast.

Wes's Grade: B-