In this comedy/drama, a college English professor (Michael Douglas) spends a weekend dealing with his editor (Robert Downey Jr.) who wants to see his far-from-finished next book, the married university chancellor (Frances McDormand) with whom he's having an affair and a gifted but ultra-depressed writing student (Tobey Maguire). Also with Katie Holmes, Rip Torn, John R. Devich, David Lean, Matt Ross and Richard Thomas. [1:48]

SEX/NUDITY 3 - Some sexual innuendo (including a discussion about putting spices and other items on male genitalia to increase pleasure) and a little kissing. A clothed man and woman hold each other on a bed; also, we see two shirtless men lying in bed together. We see a shirtless man, a man wearing boxers and a woman wearing only a T-shirt (most of her bare legs are visible).

VIOLENCE/GORE 3 - Most of the scenes have a humorous rather than dramatic tone. A dog is shot several times (the scene isn't too mean-spirited, but could be upsetting to some); its body is stuffed into a car trunk (we see it there a couple of times) and later put in a bed. A dog bites a man's ankle; when he lifts up his pant leg we see the very bloody wound. A man cuts his hand (we don't see the wound, but see him cover it with a bandage). A man jumps in front of a car several times to stop it, then jumps on its hood and makes a dent. A few scenes of reckless driving; in one scene, a car crashes into a brick wall (the driver isn't injured). Some threatening with guns (one scene is quite suspenseful); a man shoots a gun but doesn't hit anyone.

LANGUAGE 6 - 8 F-words, some anatomical references and slang terms, many scatological references, several mild obscenities and a few insults.

DISCUSSION TOPICS - Writing, infidelity, marijuana and prescription drug abuse, drunkenness, transvestites, homosexuality, theft, deception.

MESSAGE - Stop going through the motions of life and do what you truly want to do.