Film Review: Then She Found Me
Life can change in a heartbeat.
It has been a while since I last saw a film with substance. Of course, re-runs of Jane Austen adaptations are not included as they are a given. I was given this DVD the other week but between the TV shows I wanted to catch up on and my knitting, I couldn't find the time to pop it in the player. Until the other night, that is, when there was nothing good on TV and I had a sudden craving for something with more meat on the bones.
I have to admit that Colin Firth was the biggest draw to this film. I was getting tired of watching Amanda Bynes's antics in What a Girl Wants despite Colin's presence in it. So time for something new.
I love the movie. The premise was admittedly rather bizarre and a bit far-fetched, after all you're probably more likely to win the lottery than have your husband leave you and your mother die the next day. Somehow for the setting of this film, it clicked perfectly. Helen Hunt looks old, I mean really old as in wrinkles and drawn out face and she must have lost a lot of weight too. If it's all for her craft then I applaud her. I would be surprised if they actually put make up on her during filming. She looked every bit the part of a lonely and confused but very strong-willed and determined woman who is looking for a little love and understanding.
Matthew Broderick was superb in his role. Ben Green was a bit of a joke really and on more than two occasions I wanted to reach across the screen and smack him up the back side of the head! What an asshole! I loved him in his orange baseball cap though. His portrayal while comical was very real and the stammering and the pleading with his wife and the humiliation of going back home to live with his mother after he left his wife of ten months was all very human.
Colin Firth was an unbelievable prick of an Englishman! A handsome as hell prick of an Englishman! His trademark stammering and charm oozes out of the screen. Colin Firth + kids = <3 I think one of his best scenes was when April visited Frank at his house and Frank discovered Ben's baseball cap, the one he wore at the last doctor's appointment, in the back of April's car. He was upset and started walking away. Harsh words were exchanged but Frank held his ground, no matter how much he adored and loved April which was clear from the beginning. That was some fine acting there.
The real star of the show is Bette Midler. She in her stilettos and blonde hair and that sweet smile and voice. Bernice was quite annoying in the beginning but as she first accepted her younthful mistakes and then realised what she did and was doing wrong still to her daughter, she 'grew up' and became the mother. She thought that her celebrity status and the fantastical story of how Steve McQueen fathered April would be enough to win her daughter's affections. She really held it together and became a rock for April in her lowest moments.
A few tears were shed, a lot of heavy sighs let out and wishful thinking done. I thoroughly enjoyed this directorial debut by Helen Hunt and highly recommend it if you are in the mood for something different. Goes down well with a glass of vino!