When I first found out that Steven was making a movie about his life my first reaction was "wow, that's a conceited thing to do" so, I really wanted to dislike this film even before watching.

So, I skipped it at the theaters, did read some reviews and there were a lot of mixed ones. Watched the trailers and I admit those made it look half good. I figured I'd just wait till it streaming then I'd give it a go.

This afternoon I did just that, sat down in my rocking chair and watched 'the Fabelmans' and after it had ended and the credits were rolling my first thought was 'I apologize Steven'

I now know that it wasn't out of some conceited place or Steven trying to pay tribute to his own career. Instead it's a film about his family and it's dysfunctions and milestones that would eventually lead Steven to be the wonderful filmmaker we all love.

It's obvious now that Steven was the only one that could of written and directed this film.

Now, I can understand if there's questions on 'why' he made this film. Why expose his family's dirty laundry? Why stir up controversial moments but all these things led to Steven becoming the filmmaker he is.

In the end I was very pleasantly surprised by this film. I laughed, I was aggravated and at times very moved and inside all of those emotions we have tidbits on Steven falling in love with filmmaking. It's always present in the film but really it's not the focus. It's his family, the love he has for them and those struggles to keep it all together.

Good job Steven and thank you for such a wonderful career and so many great memories you have given to me and my family.

Young Sammy Fabelman is taken to the cinema by his parents to see 'The Greatest show on Earth,' the film has a major impact on him, and inspires him to take up film making, a deep family secret threatens to end his dream.

I wanted to love this movie, I really did, but I just found it too slow and long, overall it's not bad, a nice movie. As always I'll start with the positives, how nice to see a film that isn't action packed, with tonnes of CGI, villains and explosions, this is an engaging story, a sunday afternoon movie to curl up on the sofa to.

The acting is excellent, Dano and Williams are excellent, sincere performances, Seth Rogen is pretty good too, he's surprising me as he's maturing.

The downside, it's way too long, I fell asleep twice, and had to rewind back, it needed to be shorter, as there's nothing punchy happening, it's hard to remain focused, there's measured, and then there's slow, this was definitely more towards the latter.

Not sure I'd watch it again, but glad I did.

6/10.

It was far too stretched out. Like in breaking point elastic.

An irritating factor at the beginning (and this is one of my pet peeves) is that the blue eyed boy becomes a brown-eyed teenager/adult. This might be nit-picking to some but it jerks me right out of the film.

The scenes with the train were way overplayed, We get it Steven. Truly.

The film is more about the mother than her son. And their dynamic didn't feel real either. She had three other children and there is virtually nothing of her interactions with them.

I am a huge admirer of SS and his films but this is, I hate to say this, cringe worthy. That scene where the bully follows him to the locker room is unbelievable. No thick bully would have that kind of insight into his own behaviour.

I get the fifties vibe, the Beach Blanket Bingo of that era, But it was all over the place and the focus was not consistent.

Self indulgent pap.

5/10. I am being generous.