Hope Springs (2012)
If you watch the preview of Hope Springs, you’ll think you’re about to see a comedy about an older couple who have bedroom problems. I understand the desire of studios to constantly try to lighten up their previews to usher in ticket sales, but sometimes it’s not helpful. If you buy your ticket and get a completely different movie handed to you, you might not tell your friends to buy their tickets. I actually did not buy a ticket to see this movie in the theaters because it looked too light. I don’t think it’s funny to laugh at older people with bedroom problems. Had the preview accurately represented this marital drama, I would have gone to the theaters.
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones represent the average middle-aged married couple. It’s very tough for legendary movie stars to convince audiences that they’re not glamorous; but even though Meryl has acted in lavish period pieces, biopics, and musicals, she gives yet another transformation as she becomes Mrs. Average Joe. Mr. and Mrs. have lived their lives the way millions of others have: shuffling along without much hope or plans for the future. Their children are grown, and Tommy Lee has moved into the spare bedroom. It makes more sense for some couples to sleep in separate bedrooms if the physical aspect of their relationship isn’t frequent, so he doesn’t see anything wrong with his decision. Meryl is unhappy, and she signs them up for a week-long marriage workshop.
You have to keep in mind that they’re Mr. and Mrs. Average Joe. Meryl isn’t just going to get a makeover from a girlfriend and practice a sexy dance she learned by watching YouTube. Tommy Lee isn’t going to say, “Goody! I’ve always wanted to go to therapy!” and prance off to the workshop. Meryl books the trip because she’s at the end of her rope. She doesn’t have the tools to fix her problem by herself, and she has to humiliate herself in front of a total stranger in hopes that he might help. When she tells her husband what she’s done and why she’s done it, Tommy Lee refuses to go with her. He maintains there’s nothing wrong with their lives and he’s not going to talk about his feelings in therapy just because she’s bored. When Meryl packs her suitcase and vows she’s leaving with or without him, he finally realizes how serious she is, and he goes along.
Yes, this is just the first fifteen minutes of the movie. Already, you can tell how good it is! Once they’re at the marriage workshop, the movie doesn’t turn into the comedy promised by the preview. Yes, Meryl buys a banana, and Tommy Lee shares a fantasy he’s had for decades, but those scenes are actually dramatic scenes. These are not movie stars up on the screen: they’re an unhappily married couple who don’t know how to navigate through the last third of their lives.
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones represent the average middle-aged married couple. It’s very tough for legendary movie stars to convince audiences that they’re not glamorous; but even though Meryl has acted in lavish period pieces, biopics, and musicals, she gives yet another transformation as she becomes Mrs. Average Joe. Mr. and Mrs. have lived their lives the way millions of others have: shuffling along without much hope or plans for the future. Their children are grown, and Tommy Lee has moved into the spare bedroom. It makes more sense for some couples to sleep in separate bedrooms if the physical aspect of their relationship isn’t frequent, so he doesn’t see anything wrong with his decision. Meryl is unhappy, and she signs them up for a week-long marriage workshop.
You have to keep in mind that they’re Mr. and Mrs. Average Joe. Meryl isn’t just going to get a makeover from a girlfriend and practice a sexy dance she learned by watching YouTube. Tommy Lee isn’t going to say, “Goody! I’ve always wanted to go to therapy!” and prance off to the workshop. Meryl books the trip because she’s at the end of her rope. She doesn’t have the tools to fix her problem by herself, and she has to humiliate herself in front of a total stranger in hopes that he might help. When she tells her husband what she’s done and why she’s done it, Tommy Lee refuses to go with her. He maintains there’s nothing wrong with their lives and he’s not going to talk about his feelings in therapy just because she’s bored. When Meryl packs her suitcase and vows she’s leaving with or without him, he finally realizes how serious she is, and he goes along.
Yes, this is just the first fifteen minutes of the movie. Already, you can tell how good it is! Once they’re at the marriage workshop, the movie doesn’t turn into the comedy promised by the preview. Yes, Meryl buys a banana, and Tommy Lee shares a fantasy he’s had for decades, but those scenes are actually dramatic scenes. These are not movie stars up on the screen: they’re an unhappily married couple who don’t know how to navigate through the last third of their lives.
Embarrassment and risk turn into humiliation and hope as they gradually open up in front of their therapist, Steve Carell. As much as the two leads deserved their praise, the third person in the movie, who gave just as wonderful a performance, was virtually ignored. Those who have been to therapy will be able to appreciate his incredible expressions, and he has an added burden to his character. His workshop deals exclusively with married couples, and he has to represent a completely neutral, supportive, nonjudgmental, interested, knowledgeable front so that the people in front of him will trust him enough to open up. When they do, he has to keep up his front no matter what he hears—and you can tell he hears all sorts of intimate details. It’s incredibly difficult to show the movie audience that he’s stifling thoughts without showing his patients. Steve does not play a saint; he’s a human being, and of course he has to stifle any reactions he may have. He has to keep a neutral face, but he can’t be too stoic, or else the patients will think he’s not paying attention. How do you come across as being passively interested and neutrally compassionate? You’ll have to watch Hope Springs to see Steve Carell ace it.
Obviously, this movie isn’t for everyone. Younger folks who like to laugh at people with wrinkles won’t like it. People with marital troubles of their own might find it too painful. If it sounds interesting (and I think I described enough of it to give you an idea) you’ll probably like it. Pour yourself a nice stiff drink and get ready to watch some excellent, exposing performances.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to sexual content, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Meryl Streep movies here!
Obviously, this movie isn’t for everyone. Younger folks who like to laugh at people with wrinkles won’t like it. People with marital troubles of their own might find it too painful. If it sounds interesting (and I think I described enough of it to give you an idea) you’ll probably like it. Pour yourself a nice stiff drink and get ready to watch some excellent, exposing performances.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to sexual content, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Meryl Streep movies here!