Just ask Kay (Meryl Streep). She's been married to Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) for 31 years. In those 3+ decades things have become a tad rote and stale. Okay, that may be putting it mildly. The two have been sleeping in separate rooms for nearly five years and they haven't had sex in more than four. If you're thinking that this sounds like a familiar tune, perhaps you should do what Kay did: sign up for Dr. Fields' (Steve Carell) intensive couples therapy. So, off the two head to Maine to fix what ails them. In the land of lobster, the pair are treated to discussions that take them well beyond their comfort zone. Topics include sexual fantasies, oral sex, intimacy in general, to name just a few. Both are in need of oxygen at the mere mention of these topics (this is, after all, a conservative couple from Omaha), but Kay is more than willing to try. Meanwhile, Arnold needs a little more coaxing before he's even ready to realize that a problem exists. Yadayadayada...Kaye and Arnold step outside of the box thanks to the ever-insightful Doctor in an effort to rekindle a little flame in the ole marriage.
It's good, but a lot more than I expected on one front and a little less than anticipated on another. I'll go with 3.5 Stars. First, the latter. Going into this one, I fully expected something a little more along the lines of It's Complicated meets Something's Gotta Give. Yes, I realize that Nancy Myers wasn't behind this production, but considering the subject matter and cast, my expectations were set upon a movie with great scenery, characters and a high degree of hilarity. It certainly delivered each, but the latter I would consider to be more of an intelligent brand of comedy more so than kin to "Baldwin stripping down for Martin to scope out his package"-kind of humor.
What is it, then? It's funny--make no mistake. It's just a smarter, more mature, brand of raunchy humor then a lot of today's movies. What you really get from Hope Springs is a lot of relationship depth. I'm talking serious stuff. This is a couple that has been married 31 years and appears to have little to no emotional connection whatsoever. As we explore with Dr. Fields through the couple's relationship were greeted with a realistic portrayal of a very disconnected marriage. The story is treated with great realism--and this is what I didn't really expect. You reach a point, where you realize there's little to nothing light-hearted about what is going on with this couple. Further, you don't really know if they will reach the point of relationship height that Kay is seeking. In other words, the proverbial happy ending greets a reality that is very much prominent in real life.
Meryl was great. I know, right! What a surprise! She is such an amazing actress, able to tap into a character's persona with a seemingly effortless appraoch and emerge AS THAT CHARACTER. Her Kay was dead on. She wasn't alone. Tommy Lee Jones was great as Arnold, as well. It was a different kind of character from the brash, tough guy that we normally see. Arnold was gruff, sure, but he had a distant softer side that Jones captured as well. And don't forget about the astute and well-spoken Dr. Fields, played nicely by Carell. Great Cast + Great Concept = Great Movie. That's my formula and why I wanted to see Hope Springs.
Should you see this one? Yes--unless you're a kid or a teen. Hope Springs is a very thought-provoking and entertaining hundred minutes. It deals with relationship issues of great depth and does so in a way that moves you to both laugh and think, if not want to cry. I love Meryl...or as I call her, "Mom". I'll see anything she's in, so I had to go BIG on this one. If you like a movie that will work out both your brain and funny bone, you should too.
True...OUT!
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