Enough Said

Laura Flippin's latest blog post:

James Gandolfini

I never watched the Sopranos, so this was the first time I saw James Gandolfini on screen, in what turned out to be his last film as he died shortly before the movie was released.  I also have only seen Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Seinfeld although I understand she is well known for other TV shows as well.  While she is good in the film, the star really is Gandolfini.

The film focuses on Louis-Dreyfus, a divorced single mom who meets Gandolfini, a divorced single dad at a party.  Although claiming he is “not my type,” Louis-Dreyfus agrees to go on a date with Gandolfini.  Coincidentally, at the same time that this romantic relationship is developing, Louis-Dreyfus meets a woman who turns out to be Gandolfini’s ex-wife.  They become friends and Louis-Dreyfus finds herself inexplicably seeking information about what went wrong in the marriage, and imprinting some of those worries on her own relationship with Gandolfini.  When Gandolfini eventually discovers that Louis-Dreyfus has been peppering his ex-wife for dirt on his flaws and foibles, he reacts with understandable disappointment and anger at the betrayal.

Yet what could have degenerated into a sappy rom-com instead becomes a thoughtful tale of what it means to be single, to be wary of trying marriage again, and to be unsure of who you are in an uncertain world.   While Louis-Dreyfus makes a bit of a hash of things in the relationship, you feel for her insecurities, and you grow to love Gandolfini’s character, whose honesty and openness make him appealing.  I won’t spoil the ending for you but it really is about him and his wonderful personality, which centers the film.    Worth a watch if you can catch it.

from Laura Flippin Movie Reviews http://ift.tt/1h9iTdw