★★☆☆☆

Over the course of this weekend I tried to watch “The Theory of Everything.” I must stress that I tried to watch it. When it got to the part with Stephen Hawking sprawled out on the stairs looking up at his child behind the stair blocker I had to turn it off.

I realize the writers and producers were trying to make a point about just how debilitating and horrible his disease is and just how devoted his wife is, I get that. They just went on a way too long trying to show that. While there may have been something noble in their attempt, they released that movie into a culture where the Squeeze Generation (or as Kiplinger’s calls them “The Sandwich Generation”) is a growing part of the population.

The Squeeze Generation

Many of you reading this will be part of The Squeeze Generation. Technically, since I have neither spouse nor children I’m only half a squeeze. For those of you who do not know what the Squeeze Generation is, perhaps there are two of you?, The Squeeze Generation is that generation faced with having to care for elderly parents while trying to provide for those who come after us. Your existence becomes defined by the service provided to both. The Squeeze Generation does not wish to watch a movie which shows in detail a debilitating disease. We see that every day.

Yes, I applaud his wife. She loved him enough to marry him knowing full well she was being dealt a short and difficult hand. Yes, I applaud how the movie subtly pointed out the complete lack of a wheel chair accessible world we live in. Even something as seemingly insignificant as a door threshold in an otherwise wheel chair accessible building can be an excruciating experience for someone wheel chair bound. Wheel chairs don’t have shock mounted tires like automobiles so even a slight bump is a direct jar to the occupant. Yes, I have an immense amount of respect for Stephen Hawking, he has contributed amazing things to our world and he didn’t have to be a Wall Street banker or butchering MBA to do it. Yes, Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne do some amazing acting, completely disappearing into character.

A movie, however, has to be judged on the whole of the movie. This movie simply spent too much time focusing on the disease instead of his accomplishments and, sadly, I had to eject the disk.

For more movie rental ideas please see list one and list two.