How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★☆☆☆☆ 10 September 2012
This article is a review of HOPE SPRINGS. |
“I take it Arnold, intensive therapy was not your idea,” Dr Feld
Is the following equation studied in school?
Meryl Streep + Tommy Lee Jones = Movie Joy
If a static camera just captured them reading out their weekly shopping list, I’m pretty certain that would be engrossing. If HOPE SPRINGS did not have these two, it would be a one star experience. It is a trite and simplistic look at rejuvenating a bland and passionless marriage of 31 years. Meryl rarely puts a foot wrong with her choices and I kept hoping that the narrative would ratchet up to another gear of perceptiveness and drama. HOPE SPRINGS is as generic a rom-com as they come, but kept decently entertaining thanks to the charisma, gravitas and acting ability of Streep and Jones.
Is the following equation studied in school?
Meryl Streep + Tommy Lee Jones = Movie Joy
If a static camera just captured them reading out their weekly shopping list, I’m pretty certain that would be engrossing. If HOPE SPRINGS did not have these two, it would be a one star experience. It is a trite and simplistic look at rejuvenating a bland and passionless marriage of 31 years. Meryl rarely puts a foot wrong with her choices and I kept hoping that the narrative would ratchet up to another gear of perceptiveness and drama. HOPE SPRINGS is as generic a rom-com as they come, but kept decently entertaining thanks to the charisma, gravitas and acting ability of Streep and Jones.
Kay (Streep) realises this:
“He is everything. But I'm... I'm really lonely. And to be with someone, when you're not really with him can... it's... I think I might be less lonely... alone.”
Taking the initiative to save their marriage, she books them on a trip to a couple’s therapy retreat in Great Hope Springs, Maine, with Dr Feld (Steve Carell, who proves that his presence is most welcome when supporting). At a cost of $4,000, in this time of austerity, one has to wonder what the filmmakers are saying. Is it meant to show Kay’s desperation? That love trumps money? An odd choice to advertise such a huge sum for one week’s holiday to rescue a relationship when most families could not afford Dr Feld’s help. Empathy dissolves a little perhaps. They do show they are of the people by staying in an “Econolodge”. Why harp on about money? Well miserliness is one of Arnold’s character traits. And friction (as opposed to real drama) emanate from his ruing various establishment’s prices.
Carell avoids his usual sad-sack, and delivers a committed and gentle performance as someone who genuinely cares about our leads stoking their relationship embers. His various homework assignments are meant to encourage the rekindling of intimacy. Like a broad coming-of-age comedy, the humour is generated from inept and awkward romantic advances. Kay and Arnold have not had sex for five years. The ending is not only signposted but explicitly telegraphed. Enjoyment from HOPE SPRINGS will probably depend on being willingly swept along on a tide of inevitability, or over-looking unambitious storytelling because of the above equation.