Life As A House

By RICHARD SCHICKEL

George Monroe (Kevin Kline) is an architect's assistant. He lives in a shack overlooking the ocean. He also has one of those fatal movie diseases that doesn't restrict strenuous physical activity or general good cheer. He decides to renovate his house and his disaffected son (Hayden Christensen) by employing him on the job. Will they reconcile? Will the house get finished before George croaks? Will the movie end in an orgy of sentiment? Why do we bother to ask?

--R.S.