no matter how many dusty Hawaiian shirts, tacky haircuts or glasses you put on George Clooney, he's still George Clooney. and that's where this movie falters. he's simply not a believable actor for his character's problems. not for little stuff, like awkwardly running to his friends' house or snooping around the beach. not for bigger moments, like the hospital visits or a trustee meeting speech where his own persona overwhelms the character.

Clooney tried, he really did, but he never reached *that place* -- not like Giamatti, Nicholson and Broderick did in Payne's previous movies. Shailene Woodley and the kids were awesome though.