Hollywood has finally come up with a good movie many of us can relate to. 

The Savages is about a yuppie brother and sister who are full of our materialistic culture.  They suddenly find themselves caring for their elderly father who suffers from dementia.

Not only do critics like this movie, but psychologists and therapists, as well as caregivers, think  it is vividly true to life.

Of course, as in any good movie, you need plot twists, and The Savages has a big one.  The demented dad had not been a good father to his children and had often disappeared from their early lives when they needed him the most.

This complicated things and brings up a lot of issues many real life families are struggling with.

Donna Schempp of the Family Caregiver Alliance states, "It may not be love, but we do have a sense of responsibility for family.  The capacity to forgive, or at least do right by one’s parents, is very high."

If that’s not enough, the film also delves into those complicated relationships among siblings.

So what really does happen when one child takes on most of the responsibility and while the other vacations in Hawaii?  

Regardless, many still view elder care as a chance to get reconnected with their parents.

As psychologist Sonya Rhodes says, "It’s a real opportunity to do something really worthwhile, and undo and repair some of the resentment and some of the past difficulties."

I find myself really liking the siblings, and I even find the demented dad funny and endearing at times.

Should we go see The Savages? 

Yes and no.  It’s a good, often hilarious movie and excellent entertainment, but it could be too realistic for some of us.

Watch the  movie trailer

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