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Good movie but grossly overrated

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

I am teacher. And i find it amazing (joking of course) that a teacher can bring an axe in classroom, because of which she is injured (and with high risk danger a student to be killed or injured), and at the end she succeeds to have her work at school back, with the condition not to bring again axes or other instruments at school. Isn't this totally crazy? In Greece, and many other normal countries, a teacher bringing axe would be fired and would not even think of going to justice to take his work back. Not to mention that he would be forced to go to psychologist. Well, very low expectations you should have if you decide to watch this movie. You will loose your hour, and will face crazy facts as the one i described above.

A female lead in a story about math? The synopsis was somewhat misleading, or perhaps I wanted it to be complicated. I was expecting a twist on something along the lines of "Stand and Deliver" or "Good Will Hunting." It turns out this is simple math and the plot is not a formula. The heroine is a socially inept third grade teacher (Jessica Alba), a "weirdo" to the apparently well adjusted children and their ordinary, dysfunctionally functional parents. It is a quirky story that gets off to a jumpy start. I almost stopped watching then realized I was enjoying the mess. In an early scene, the first day of school, the children are arranged into a human equation. It escaped me then that was a play on the theme. When I notice that a film I like is receiving mixed or bad reviews am compelled to contribute my own evaluation, to assist those on the fence. This isn't for everyone. Anyone who doesn't grok "the human equation" probably won't get the result. The other extreme might find it overly simplistic. Those who've valued themselves as odd, complex, uncommon denominators will be able to relate.

"An Invisible Sign" really had potential to be something unique, sadly, it turned out not to spread out all of its potential. It was a shame, because the movie really did have a beautiful story at heart, it was just directed and told in a manner that really didn't make use of everything the movie and the actors had to offer.The story in "An Invisible Sign" is about Mona Gray (played by Jessica Alba) who has withdrawn herself into a world of math after her father (played by John Shea) became suddenly ill. Without work and means of supporting herself, Mona finds herself having to live on her own for the first time. Luckily her mother (played by Sonia Braga) manages to find Mona a teaching job at the local school as a math teacher. Untrained for teaching, Mona finds herself thrust into a parental role to some of the children as they have very real problems and crisis of their own.What made the movie worthwhile watching was the acting put on by all the actors and actresses that were in the movie, because they really delivered some amazing performances. However, it was limited how much they had to work with here, and it was a shame, because this limitation really held back what could have been awesome performances.The characters in the movie were distinctive, unique and very nicely carved out with their quirks, traits and personalities. And the characters were persons and individuals that you immediately bought into, taking a liking or a disliking to.There was untapped potential in this movie, and the world will never get to see what a beautiful story the movie could have bloomed into in the hands of the right storyteller.

If you have not read the book "An Invisible Sign of My Own" or bother at least to read the book reviews of this 2001 fiction by Aimée Bender, you may very well be disappointed by the movie; it most certainly is not a commercial or popular storyline producers would try to outbid themselves for the movie rights. It is a charming tale of a quirky young woman, Mona Gray, played by Jessica Alba, who has not grown up yet but is pushed into the real world and must learn to swim or sink, metaphorically speaking. She lands a job as a math teacher at an elementary school, with false credentials; it is the only job she seems fit for.The ever slow process of Mona's self-discovery begins in earnest with her new job, with the help of a new found friend, a very patient and kind science teacher Ben Smith played by Chris Messina, and an older one, Mona's own former math teacher turned hardware store owner played by J.K. Simmons, she had dismissed from her life a while back. The trauma of her father's mental illness is at the core of Mona's cocoon-life and behaviour. The interest Mona takes in one of her pupils, Lisa Venus, played so believably well by Sophie Nyweide, starts Mona's process of maturing; Lisa's single mother is dying of the rarest of cancer and Mona is the sole person who ever expressed care for her daughter.There are a few beautiful lines, and memorable, in the movie; the movie has narration, by Alba. In one, she says "Life is much harder than math" and another I liked but must paraphrase (I did not write it down) "You know you're grown-up, an adult, when you look around and you're the one in charge". This is the first time, in my recollection; I've seen J.K. Simmons play a role that was not that of a tough codger or extremely witty guy; here he plays a role of a kind simple man you can expect in a fairytale. The direction by Marilyn Agrelo was excellent, as I see the attention paid to details.Mostly, I was blown away by Jessica Alba's performance; one that did not require her to take her clothes off, or do some phony martial artsy high kicking or one of the roles she so often has played. Here, she shows facial expressions of innocence, bewilderment, fear, caring and love like you expect from a really good actor; she does not overplay her role and she is believable. As much as I liked her shower scene in 'Machete' I loved her acting here. I hope producers and directors take note and send worthy scripts her way. I knew she had the potential when I saw the film "Sleeping Dictionary"; perhaps motherhood (she's a real mom now) has allowed her to find character depth we now know she can deliver. This movie somehow reminds me of "I Am Sam" and "Skellig" for the mood of the movies, or the one I had to be in to watch them. So basically, as the ratings indicate, this will not be a commercial hit and many will find fault with Alba showing no skin and mock her acting; that's too bad. Other reviewers who read the book recommend the movie; that's usually good.