Written & Directed By: James L. Brooks

Cinematography: Robert Elswit

Editor: Tracy Wadmore-Smith 

Cast: Ella Mackey, Woody Harrelson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Ayo Edebiri, Kumail Nanijani, Jack Lowden, Spike Fearn, Rebecca Hall, 

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.

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I really wanted to enjoy this film. As I have grown up watching James L. Brooks films or productions, not to mention Emma Mackey in one of her first big screen leading roles after making such an impact on the series SEX EDUCATION

but this was a film that was hard to take.

It might be as it is so idealistic. It would have worked in the 1950’s or before, but in today’s political climate. It comes across as more of a dream. A high concept movie that might have come along or been passable in the 1980’s but feels grating and off rhythm in today’s cinema. 

While it’s nice to watch a film that is idealistic and not so cynical in today’s climate. It can still be interesting, which unfortunately this film isn’t. It lacks an ingredient even though it has plenty of energy .  

The film feels overwritten. As one of the characters says in the movie “You don’t have to articulate everything” one wishes the movie had taken its own advice.  

As the film plays like more of a theatrical piece for the stage, especially with the characters saying their feelings out loud to one another. Theme there are so many plot threads that luckily revolve around the main character. So that they lead into one another. 

It ends up feeling way too scripted an never natural. So that the characters have all these neurosis. Though they never Come across as natural or believable. They are slaves to the directions of the screenplay

One can understand Writer/Director Brooks is doing what he does best and aiming for an old school classic dramatic comedy that is more grounded and adult. Like the One’s he might have grown up with. Which is similar to his last big screen film HOW DO YOU KNOW. Though as that film was star studded but a bomb. This is truly worse than that film. As it is questionable what he saw in this story or film.

The film feels endless and boring after awhile. Where you get to the point where you don’t care what happens, you just want the film to end. 

There Also seems to be some scenes missing as it sets up a romance for two characters. Which is obvious, but we never actually see them pursue it or watch it grow to show their chemistry. It’s implied and then in the end even them being a couple is presented in the same way. Was it controversial as it would be interracial? It’s just strange especially in a film that fees the need to over explain Everything else. That it gets modest there or leaves the audience to figure it out. As maybe the filmmaker feels he has been there way too many times before.

It plays like a romantic comedy but then tries to present itself as a comedic character study?

It’s ultimately like the film isn’t sure in which direction it should be or even wants to go. 

Though luckily it fits into James L. Brooks filmography pedigree. Just not up to the quality of his previous works. 

Grade: D