This movie kind of snuck up on me. The title just popped up on TubiTV and I said, "What the heck", and clicked it.
This is a romantic comedy that The Hallmark Channel WOULDN'T DARE make. It was VERY funny at times - but about the only character here that MIGHT make it into a typical Hollywood production is the "successful" sister (who turns out to be not-quite-as-successful-as-she-appears). The cast is solid overall, but Rusty Schwimmer is the standout in the starring role of the frumpy, middle-aged woman with an... interesting... job, who is ready to bite at the first shiny lure that dangles before her.
I was reminded of some earlier films, like "Harry & Tonto", "Manhattan", and the films of Henry Jaglom - though this film comes off a bit more like cinéma vérité than any of those. The characters are more like those people you DON'T WANT to admit that you know in real life, but... you do. (At least, SOME of them.) Life's losers, through some fault of their own. (At least, a bit.)
And... I don't agree with the assessment of some of the reviewers here that the ending was a let-down. The ending was just as true-to-life as the rest of the film: not "happy" - but not tragic, either. Just... "a work in progress", like the lives of all the characters therein.
Bravo.
This is a romantic comedy that The Hallmark Channel WOULDN'T DARE make. It was VERY funny at times - but about the only character here that MIGHT make it into a typical Hollywood production is the "successful" sister (who turns out to be not-quite-as-successful-as-she-appears). The cast is solid overall, but Rusty Schwimmer is the standout in the starring role of the frumpy, middle-aged woman with an... interesting... job, who is ready to bite at the first shiny lure that dangles before her.
I was reminded of some earlier films, like "Harry & Tonto", "Manhattan", and the films of Henry Jaglom - though this film comes off a bit more like cinéma vérité than any of those. The characters are more like those people you DON'T WANT to admit that you know in real life, but... you do. (At least, SOME of them.) Life's losers, through some fault of their own. (At least, a bit.)
And... I don't agree with the assessment of some of the reviewers here that the ending was a let-down. The ending was just as true-to-life as the rest of the film: not "happy" - but not tragic, either. Just... "a work in progress", like the lives of all the characters therein.
Bravo.