Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- warm
- candid
- witty
- reflective evening
- lgbtq+ cinema night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film warm, candid, and entertaining, with its sympathetic father-son relationship and lgbtq+ representation offset by some conventional storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harry and Jeff separately pursue partners while their father son bond remains the emotional center of the story.
The plot explicitly foregrounds the natural, sympathetic relationship between Harry and his gay son Jeff.
The supplied keywords identify breaking the fourth wall as a defining formal device.
The Sydney family home and its relationships organize the film's lgbtq+ representation.
Films like The Sum of Us, and why
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
warm family drama blending comedy, romance, and lgbtq+ themes through an intimate parent child relationship
Beautiful Thing
empathetic lgbtq+ storytelling with humor, romance, and social prejudice treated through human-scale character drama
Holding the Man
emotionally direct australian drama combining family bonds, sexuality, tenderness, and understated humor
The Birdcage
romantic comedy-drama centered on unconventional relationships, personal acceptance, and affectionate ensemble dynamics
Movie Details
- Directors
- Kevin Dowling, Geoff Burton
- Release Date
- 1994-07-28
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (78)
Cast
- Jack Thompson
- Russell Crowe
- John Polson
- Deborah Kennedy
- Joss Moroney
- Mitch Mathews
- Julie Herbert
- Des James
- Mick Campbell
- Donny Muntz
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Sum of Us about?
- A tender Sydney father-son comedy-drama follows two generations searching for love while protecting an unusually open family bond.
- What is The Sum of Us like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Sum of Us as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Sum of Us violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Sum of Us.
- What did critics think of The Sum of Us?
- Critics generally found the film warm, candid, and entertaining, with its sympathetic father-son relationship and lgbtq+ representation offset by some conventional storytelling.
- Which films are like The Sum of Us?
- Films with a similar feel include Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Beautiful Thing, Holding the Man, and The Birdcage.
- How long is The Sum of Us?
- The Sum of Us runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Sum of Us?
- In United States, The Sum of Us streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
