It's almost Labor Day 1987. Henry Wheeler (Gattlin Griffith) is alone with his depressed mother Adele (Kate Winslet) after his father (Clark Gregg) left them for his new family. At the store, Henry is approached by Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin). He's injured and threatening as Adele reluctantly gives him a ride back to their house. He's an escaped convict serving 18 years for murder as the police manhunt closes in. Slowly Frank takes on the father role in the house and Adele discovers an attraction for the criminal.

There is a low simmering quiet menace from Brolin. The movie moves pretty slowly. It's slowly turns into a romance. Director Jason Reitman never lets go of the quiet menace. To his credit, it never slips into sappy melodrama. It is still a little too quiet and the tension is never that high even when James Van Der Beek drops by as a policeman. Maybe it is for the reason that it's JVDB that it doesn't get the tension. There is one very compelling face off between Brooke Smith and Brolin. However it's only one scene. The movie needs more scenes of that caliber.

Jason Reitman better known for bittersweet comedies has adapted a novel. You can tell as it has a heavy handed narration by Tobey Maguire.

Reitman has made a serious melodrama with romantic overtones. Maguire is the older Henry Wheeler. In 1987 young Henry (Gattlin Griffith) encountered an escaped convict Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin) at the supermarket and he insists on some help.

Henry's mother Adele (Kate Winslet) takes Frank to their home. Over the next few days while a manhunt is happening, Frank fixes the house, bakes, cooks and acts like a father to Henry. Also Frank and Adele fall for each other.

Adele usually hates going outside, she is nervous and has issues because of her constant miscarriages.

Labor Day is a corny film, Maguire's narration provides a warm sentimental glow. I think Reitman wanted to make s Douglas Sirk type of movie which was heavy on subtext. It is rather laboured without much tension or drama. It only works because the acting is good.

Henry (Gattlin Griffith) lives modestly with his lonely single mom (Kate Winslet made to look dowdy). She is a prisoner in her own home. Then Frank (Josh Brolin) an escaped convict comes into their life and he sets her free for five days. Henry provides some narration and there are flashbacks to build character late in the film.

A combination sad and heart warming formulaic romance tale. Chick Flick.