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09/21/2017 12:01 AMRated PG-13
Reese Witherspoon, the lead in Home Again, calls her latest film a “modern comedy,” because it supposedly dispenses with the typical happy ending of a romantic comedy. In a recent interview for The New York Times, she also says that she’s never seen an older woman/younger man romance where the woman’s “not some sort of creepy predator.” She may have forgotten the 1990 film, White Palace, with a seasoned Susan Sarandon and the young James Spader. Or go back to Mae West (yes, a bit of a predator, but not creepy) in 1933’s I’m No Angel, who at age of 40 seduces the 29-year-old Cary Grant. And the list goes on. Still, Witherspoon (Wild, TV’s Big Little Lies) does have a point that society remains on the cusp of accepting an older woman—Alice Kinney celebrates her 40th birthday in the film—having a relationship with a 20-something man (played by Pico Alexander: A Most Violent Year, War Machine). When diverse relationships become mainstream, we’ll stop talking about them.
It helps that everyone in Alice’s life jumps on board with her choice, even her mother, Lillian, played by Candace Bergen, who herself broke barriers by playing strong, independent women in TV’s Murphy Brown and Boston Legal, as did Mary Tyler Moore before her.
Alice, the daughter of a renowned movie director, leaves her husband in New York and settles with her two girls, played by the equally charming Eden Grace Redfield (The Glass Castle, TV pilot, I’m Sorry) and Lola Flanery (Trauma, TV’s The Mist) in her father’s home after his death. She naturally struggles to get a foothold at work and play. Along come three struggling screenwriters who need a place to stay. When they befriend Lillian, they are ushered into the homestead’s guest house.
One glitch , when it comes to Alice’s romance with the beautiful Harry (Alexander), is that despite his appeal, his friend George, who also pines for Alice, is funnier, more centered, and more appealing. Played by Jon Rudnitsky (Saturday Night Live, Patchwork), he would make a better match. But then, Home Again would have to leap to another level and give up the trivial banter among characters.
Teddy, the third boarder, becomes almost one too many, except that Nat Wolff (The Fault in our Stars, Death Note) brings a quirky likability and rapport with everyone. Experienced stage actor Michael Sheen (Midnight in Paris, TV’s Masters of Sex) adds his voice as Austen, the beleaguered husband trying to get back with Alice.
Writer/director Hallie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of writers Nancy Meyers (The Holiday, It’s Complicated) and Charles Shyer (The Parent Trap, Father of the Bride), grew up in Hollywood, and makes her directing debut here. Her actors are mostly newbies, too, but to her credit, the film rolls along seamlessly with a light touch. She drops in the usual montages of romance: Harry and Alice share less-than-meaningful moments, but the highlights are really between the guys and the daughters, especially George, who helps Isabel (the eldest) find her confidence.
The dialogue is standard fare, with a fresh word or two, such as when Austen describes his relationship with Alice as “blurry.” But isolated zingers and a pat ending, which doesn’t truly depart from happily-ever-after, can’t lift Home Again up to a memorable comedy. The perky Witherspoon, hearkening back to former light roles, doesn’t appear world-weary enough, and Anderson seems too fragile. Candace Bergen and a young man would have made a much more fascinating combination.
Have you seen a movie recently that you’ve loved, or are you excited about one coming up? Send a short description of the movie and why you like it, to Pem McNerney at p.mcnerney@shorepublishing.com, along with a selfie of you at the movies. We’ll share it with our readers!