Film: Enough Said (2013)
Cast includes: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld), Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense), Catherine Keener (Capote), James Gandolfini (The Sopranos)
Writer/Director: Nicole Holofcener (Lovely & Amazing)
Genre: Humor | Light Drama (93 minutes)
“I’m gonna ask you to take a deep breath…” How many times has Eva said that? Making a living as a masseuse can get old… lugging around the table, listening to the self-absorbed chatter, pretending to be interested… not that she’s complaining. When her best friends Sarah and Will invite her to a fancy party, Eva’s game… and besides, it’s an opportunity to wear lipstick. “Maybe you’ll meet some men,” says Sarah. Instead, Eva meets Marianne. “I’m a poet,” says Marianne. “And I’m a dreamer,” replies Eva. OMG… Marianne really is a poet. Oops! “You’re a poet and now I know it.” Eva uses humor to smooth over an awkward moment… as she hands Marianne one of her cards. Back with Sarah and Will… “Not one man at this party that I’m attracted to,” she says just as Will introduces his friend Albert. Oops! “No one here I’m attracted to either,” he responds. But we see the way Albert looks at Eva.
A few days later, Eva goes over to her new client’s house. Marianne actually did call. “Mind taking off your shoes. And socks.” “Oh my… isn’t this nice!” says Eva as she look around at Marianne’s lovely home. Over the course of the massage she learns a bit about Marianne’s ex-husband and the unpleasant divorce… they had zero in common, fat, really messy, wouldn’t eat onions, completely repulsed by him sexually. Later Sarah calls to saying “some guy you met wants your number.” Eva’s first date with Albert is a bit awkward… but also a bit nice. They compare photos of their daughters, both leaving for college soon. Oddly, they seem to have similar senses of humor and good chemistry. About the goodnight kiss… “I’m not sure.” Their next date is at his house. Albert naturally wants to know if any of Eva’s male clients ever want to hit on her. She gets that question all the time. “I could give you a massage, if you’d like.” “I would like. But I’ll definitely try to hit on you,” he says. “Maybe that would be ok,” says Eva.
“Our middle age-ness is kind of sexy,” says Eva, trying to explain to her teenaged daughter the appeal of starting a new relationship. Yuk! Of course, new relationships after divorce are fraught with problems. You’ve already been around once and you definitely don’t want to repeat any of the same mistakes. Anyway, the plot thickens when Eva learns that her new client is actually Albert’s ex. Enough Said is a charming movie about the complexity of middle-aged relationships. For anyone who’s middle aged or older, the film is filled with moments you’ll relate to. It’s beautifully written and directed. While the destination isn’t a big surprise, the journey is very enjoyable… largely due to the chemistry between the leads Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. Although the promotional campaign bills this film as a comedy, it’s actually more of a humorous light drama. James Gandolfini fans will fall in love with him all over again… as we watch Eva trying to decide whether to trust her heart or her head. “Who would ever date a person like that?” says Albert’s ex.
3 popped kernels
Love after divorce is complicated, especially when you’re trying not to repeat your mistakes
Popcorn Profile
Rated: PG-13
Audience: Grown-ups
Distribution: Mainstream limited release
Mood: Upbeat
Tempo: Cruises comfortably
Visual Style: Unvarnished realism
Primary Driver: Character development
Language: True to life
