Rotten
"Better Living Through Chemistry" as a whole feels rather superficial and safe.
Christy Lemire, RogerEbert.com
Better Living Through Chemistry
Happiness has no formula
2014 · 1h 31m · NOT RATED
Comedy, Drama
Directed by
Geoff Moore
,
David Posamentier
Overview
A straight-laced pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.
Director and cast
- Geoff Moore Director
- David Posamentier Director
- Sam Rockwell as Douglas Varney
- Michelle Monaghan as Kara Varney
- Olivia Wilde as Elizabeth Roberts
- Ray Liotta as Jack Roberts
- Jane Fonda as Pharmacy Customer
- Norbert Leo Butz as Agent Andrew Carp
- Ben Schwartz as Noah
- Ken Howard as Walter Bishop
- Jenn Harris Cast
- Lauren White Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
20%
Tomatometer
Rotten
By the time the film gets to its ridiculous stretch of an ending, we've all seen the great fun to be had with drugs while also learning of their danger. How convenient. How empty.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Rotten
Sam Rockwell's committed performance can't save the glib debut of filmmakers Geoff Moore and David Posamentier.
Geoff Berkshire, Variety
Rotten
An ill-conceived if mildly amusing comedy about middle-class ennui, sexual frustration, and drug abuse.
Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer
Rotten
"Better Living Through Chemistry" ... is too much like the pretty suburbs it was shot in - neat and slick and comfortable. But ultimately, and deliberately, safe.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
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