Wednesday Movie Night: The Guilt Trip (2012)

Personally, I think The Guilt Trip deserves a little bit more than just a 5.6 on IMDb. It's cute and while it plays off the current trend of road trips, the two leads do work well together in creating a comedy that is for adults but still okay to watch with your family to laugh about. Anne Fletcher has directed other movies you've heard of though like 27 Dresses, and the more popular The Proposal. This one though seems to have been a bigger flop of the ones of she directed though.

Andy begins a trip cross-country by visiting his mom, but when he gets there he discovers something he has been ignoring. After finding out about his mom's past lover he decides to set her up on a date, and brings her with him to go on a road trip in order to surprise her with the set up. Andy's mom though isn't quite ready to let go though, and on the trip she is constantly looking for ways to try to be motherly to him. The two though will hopefully understand each other much better by the end of the trip, and have some closure.


Understandably, it can be difficult for parents to let their children be grown ups, and it can even be more difficult according to this movie if your mom is single. Andy thinks this cure can be found in giving her another man in her life to care for other than him. This does make for interesting twist and turns in both their lives, and it's makes for a nice short comedy. What may hurt it though is some of the outlandish things that happen like Barbara Streisand's Joyce eating a whole meat to get it for free at a restaurant.

Seth Rogen his is usual character, but still funny, in this movie. Andy isn't anything different though in what I've seen him in before. He is sort of goofy, but not exactly dumb, and seems like a guy struggling to grow up. There is something always likable about him though even when he is a jerk most of the time in his movies. Barbara Streisand goes a little bit out of her way I supposed to also show she can be fun. I haven't seen her in much, but I thought she had good comedic timing in this movie, and worked well with Rogen.

The Guilt Trip is funny though, and it does provide many lighthearted laughs. Of course you can also expect a little message about families to be wrapped in it as well, so it may feel sappy. In a lot of ways if you have family thought it does feel real to probably some of the things you have experienced, or at least it was for me as I get older.


The Guilt Trip is a nice light, comedy to enjoy. It's not very deep, and you shouldn't look for any grand insight, but take it as fun. The lead actors seem to work well together and they have a good mother and son bond that carries the movie. There are some ridiculous parts, but they can be funny at times. Just take it for what it is and maybe you can enjoy it as well.

Rating 8 of 10.