The commercials and the trailer for Hope Springs market the movie as a comedy. It isn’t. In fact, clunks of the movie are couples counseling sessions. Meryl Streep plays Kay, a Coldwater Creek clerk, who is distressed by the lack of intimacy in her 31-year marriage to Arnold (an accountant) played by Tommy Lee Jones. Meryl signs them up for intensive couples counseling in a remote Maine town called Hope Springs. The therapist, played by Steve Carell, listens to their marital problems and assigns Meryl and Tommy “exercises” designed to restore their lost intimacy. Gaffs and misfires ensue. Hope Springs is a message movie and the message is hopeful. But not for one second did I believe Meryl Streep was a frumpy clerk or Tommy Lee Jones was a parsimonious bean counter, or that Steve Carell was a therapist. Their stardom eclipses their roles in this movie. And the depictions of Elder Sex may disturb some viewers. Movie critic David Edelstein called Hope Springs a “post-menopausal chick flick.” I wouldn’t go that far. GRADE: B
I agree totally about the star power of the actors making it impossible to see them as their characters–even watching the trailers, I couldn’t see them as anyone but Streep, Jones, and Correll. Plus, even when Streep is playing “frumpy” there’s a luminosity about her that makes it hard to see her as a downtrodden wife. I suppose I qualify for the “post-menopausal chick” demographic, but this would not be the movie to which I’d be turning.
The best part of HOPE SPRINGS is Meryl Streep’s character’s willingness to try just about anything to save her marriage, Deb. I found that sweet and inspiring.
And I had just talked Phil into this. Darn!
HOPE SPRINGS is worth a look, Patti. You and Phil will have plenty to talk about afterwards. We did.
Even Jackie decided to wait until it hits television or DVD.
The Regal theater we saw HOPE SPRINGS at was packed, Jeff. There aren’t many movies made for our demographic.
We saw RUBY SPARKS last week. It wasn’t quite as good as I hoped, though I did like it, but there were only a handful of other people in the weekday matinee. I find Paul Dano’s acting rather off-putting.
I’m with you on Paul Dano, Jeff. RUBY SPARKS will have to wait until the DVD comes out for us.
I like Streep a lot, but the trainer/commercials I saw didn’t make it seem interesting in the least, and neither did Barbara want to see it.
You’re going to have to sit through several couples therapy sessions with Meryl, Tommy, and Steve, Rick, if you’re going to commit to HOPE SPRINGS.