Better Living Through Chemistry | Rotten Tomatoes

Better Living Through Chemistry

Released Mar 14, 2014

1h 31m

Comedy

Drama

List

23%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

38%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

A pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he has an affair with a trophy wife who enjoys sex, drugs and murder.

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Critics Consensus

Better Living Through Chemistry proves suburban satire and a talented cast can be mixed together to produce a disappointingly tepid blend.

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Christy Lemire

RogerEbert.com

"Better Living Through Chemistry" as a whole feels rather superficial and safe.

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 14, 2014

Full Review

Tom Long

Detroit News

By the time the film gets to its ridiculous stretch of an ending, we've all seen the great fun to be had with drugs while also learning of their danger. How convenient. How empty.

Rated: C-

Mar 14, 2014

Full Review

Geoff Berkshire

Variety

Sam Rockwell's committed performance can't save the glib debut of filmmakers Geoff Moore and David Posamentier.

Mar 14, 2014

Full Review

Asia Frey

Lagniappe (Mobile, AL)

Cynical dark comedy "Better Living Through Chemistry" stands out against other foul-mouthed, indie-ish capers for one reason: Sam Rockwell.

Aug 22, 2018

Full Review

Stephen Danay

Under the Radar

If nothing else, the directors have assembled an impressive, if underutilized cast.

Rated: 2/10

Sep 7, 2014

Full Review

Brad Keefe

Columbus Alive

It's got some of the comic-noir-y small town murder plot of 'To Die For' without the payoff. It's got some of the male midlife crisis of 'American Beauty' without the nuance.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 21, 2014

Full Review

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Audience Member

I was surprised that this movie received a low score on both critic and audience as it really is a great film. Sam Rockwell captures the lead role and brings a sense of humor to this dark comedy. His role as a pharmacist is believable and the transformation of the character was spot on. With Olivia Wilde as his sidekick the movie dives deep into real life issues in a comedic way that's not over the top or glamorizing. Sam Rockwell is somewhere between Albert Hoffman and William Russ as Alan Matthews. With an all star cast and plot this movie is a great pick if your looking for a surreal dark comedy with the wittiness of Sam Rockwell.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Better living through chemistry has a great cast and a funny premise but the execution is a bit bland. I was constantly hoping the movie it be funnier than what it was it take chances but it never did. As it is it’s an OK little film but it’s not nearly as funny and the script is not nearly as good as it could’ve been.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Aunque el guión pudo estar bien así como la actuación de los protagonistas, es demasiado light, aunque con moraleja, vale la pena verla por Olivia Wilde, es una reina.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film was almost good.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Juoneltaan yllätyksellinen elokuva lääkkeiden väärinkäytöstä.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

'You can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone. '

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Geoff Moore

Director

David Posamentier

Director

Sam Rockwell

Douglas Varney

Olivia Wilde

Elizabeth Roberts

Michelle Monaghan

Kara Varney

Ben Schwartz

Noah

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Synopsis

A pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he has an affair with a trophy wife who enjoys sex, drugs and murder.

Director: Geoff Moore, David Posamentier
Producer: Paul O. Davis, Felipe Marino, Joe Neurauter
Screenwriter: Geoff Moore, David Posamentier
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: Occupant Entertainment
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $72.3K
Runtime: 1h 31m

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