Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)

What is it about? 

A father dealing with bi-polar disorder attempts to win over his wife and kids by taking on the responsibility of taking care of his kids while she attends graduate school in New York. 

Who is in it? 

Mark Ruffalo - Cam Stuart

Zoe Saldana - Maggie Stuart

Imogene Wolodarsky - Amelia Stuart

Ashley Aufderheide - Faith Stuart

Favorite Scene: 

Maggie and Amelia finally bring their friends back to the apartment. While they were nervous at first, it ended up being a good time with the kids playing roulette, learning how to make crapes, and playing with machetes. 

Favorite Quote: 

"They kicked me out of Harvard because the next semester they knew I was delusional because I registered for 75 courses."

Review: 

Infinitely Polar Bear was surprisingly good. What was an impulse watch, actually turned into an entertaining 88 minutes, and really, wish for more. After all, besides 13 Going on 30, isn't Mark Ruffalo usually pretty good in everything? 

And thus he was in this film as well playing the manic depressive Cam Stuart in a role that sheds some humor on the issue, all while letting you into the lives of those who deal with loved ones who suffer from the disease. Ruffalo was fantastic and is very much worth the watch because of his role. Also, so are the kids who were surprising as well. 

Another positive are the subtle 

All in all, this film was enjoyable, and very much worth the short run time. 

Grade: 4/5

Recently Read

Dome Pondering Move Review: Say You Will (2017)

What is it about? A recent high school graduate cares for his mother while attempting to navigate his first relationship following his father's suicide.  Who is in it? Travis Tope - Sam Nimitz Katherine Hughes - Ellie Vaughn Favorite Scene: [spoiler alert] Sam plays his song for his mom. Favorite Quote: Ellie: "I wish we could have met down the road, maybe when we were like 27." Sam: "I think we needed each other now." Review:  Say You Will was an absolutely pleasant surprise of a watch from the Amazon Prime offerings.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this one, but after the credits rolled, it was a movie that provided authentic characters and a great lesson on life. We don't always have to have everything figured out, and it's okay if you don't.  What makes Say You Will so beautiful is that all of the characters are carrying some inner struggle that connects them in the moment and time that helps them through whatever it is. The unlike...

The Pondering 10 - Most Fascinating Things of 2025

2025 sure did ebb and flow.  Is it just me, or did August through December zoom by? Nonetheless, we are at that time of the year again, which brings about some common traditions around these parts - the Pondering 10 Most Fascinating Things of the Year, and then the Dome Pondering Year in Review .  (Most Fascinating Things: 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 ,  2022 , 2023 , & 2024 ) Life really presented itself in unique ways this year, with a sense of a deeper layer of belonging and purpose, more so than what society has reflected since the pandemic. 2025 brought a deeper understanding of life through war, disaster, politics, the human spirit, and appreciation, among other things.  We'll get into that in the Year in Review.  For now, let's run it! Here is my Most Fascinating Things list for 2025: --- 10. Marjorie Taylor Greene Oh yeah, we're going there. MJT makes the very end of the list with a recent change in political positioning. I find it ...

Pondering Picture #111 (Photo of the Year - 2025)

A parent runs toward the school during an active shooter situation at the Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, Minn., on Aug. 27.  Richard Tsong-Taatarii—Star Tribune/Getty Images This photo stayed with me all year. Shout out to all the tremendous parents giving their all every day.