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The problem with this film is not the film itself. It is entertaining enough and there is lovely chemistry between Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie. Fans had been longing for a long time to see these two in the roles that they own so much. But... the problem really is that producer Kevin Sullivan thought he had the right to change the life story of characters created by someone else. He thought that Anne's story was not dramatic enough (and the legal disputes with the heirs didn't help) and decided to invent something that would be bland and entertaining. By doing this he overruled the expectations of millions of fans that loved Anne's story - he had the perfect chance, perfect actors and a great story (who in their right mind can say that Anne's House of Dreams is not dramatic enough??) and he missed that. It is really unfortunate and sad. Why call them Anne and Gilbert when they obviously are not them?

First we had the Sex and the City - series. It was witty, intelligent writing. It featured four women that were independent, strong, loving and loyal to their friends. For the first time really a series was concentrating on women and playing them as complex, interesting characters in -sometimes- equal relationships with men. So, when the movie came out the expectations were high. But - it lands so flat. From the movie we learn that how women really spend their lives is waiting for the prince to come and pick them up. All the rest of the time is just used chatting with girlfriends about the Mr Right. That women truly exist only when they are with some man. The movie is superficial, not believable (the scene with Miranda and Steve on the bridge is just plain pathetic), and boring. Not even the jokes work well. It's not a movie about (these) women and their (fabulous) life in their 40s but a weak plot build around photo shoots, clothes, shoes, fashion, design. It's the pages of Vogue or Metropolitan or whatever other fashion magazine made into a movie. It quite conservatively reminds us that women can be wild in their 20s, independent in their 30s and they need a man to give a meaning to their lives when they're 40. Quite sad.

Only last week a friend said that school-time bullying in preadolescence or adolescence leaves a scar for a life-time. To be bullied in a phase in life when you are full of insecurities and your self-esteem and self-image are just shaping themselves, to be bullied by your peers is a terrible burden. It's a cowardly act by cowards who make their best to make you a coward.

Cobardes is not a happy movie. It is not an easy movie. It has quite a pessimistic under-tone that reflects our time of disconnected families and media violence. It has no winners and a plenty of losers. There is no black and white here but a general sense of shades of depressive grey. It manages to avoid cheap moralism and unnecessary preaching and instead delivers a conclusion that we all fear for something/someone and we are all ready to misuse power over those that are vulnerable to us.

Cobardes might not be as fresh, small and beautiful as the previous movie by the directors. It's much more a product, professionally made and very well acted that might lack in passion but gives food for though. The (inner) world of adolescents is always a mystery not only to themselves but to the people around them. The script has its flaws and imperfections but that is overruled by the impressive work by the actors, especially the young ones. They manage to give a face and presence to some uneasy feelings and play well with our sympathies. The movie has rhythm and a polemic, but excellent ending. It is not a masterpiece and doesn't pretend to be that but it is one of the very few, if any, well done movies on a difficult and merging theme that hopefully connects with the young audience and makes them reflect on this issue.