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revdorothyl at 04:30pm on 01/06/2008 under movie reviews
revdorothyl at 04:30pm on 01/06/2008 under movie reviewsI ended up seeing a matinee of the new Helen Hunt (starring and directing) film "Then She Found Me" yesterday morning, since the previews had been intriguing, and I was NOT disappointed (though I was a lot more tearful at times than I'd expected to be, given the high comedic content of much of those preview scenes).
As a side-note, it was oddly satisfying to see Helen Hunt looking at least as old as her 39-year-old character, and Colin Firth looking just as yummy as ever (though delightfully rumpled as a single parent of young kids who hasn't had enough sleep in years and tends to blurt things out occasionally when a better-rested man might hold back) and being widly attracted to Hunt's character.
If you've seen the previews, you know that Hunt plays April Epner, who was adopted as a baby, and whose birth mother (played by Bette Midler) contacts her, out of the blue, just about the same time that April's hopes for a family of her own (husband and biological children) seem to be falling apart. What you don't see is the matter-of-fact way that April's faith -- the Jewish faith she was raised in and practices at least every Sabbath -- plays into the story of what happens to her when she has all these unexpected emotional curve balls thrown at her head (including the unexpected delight of Colin Firth as the perfect boyfriend), and how April copes with and survives it all.
Every time I thought this movie was going to go in a predictable direction and lay down some pat answer to a really complex question (is there a difference between being raised by adoptive parents and being raised by your biological parents, and if there is, would it necessarily be a detriment to the adoptive child? does a tragic loss mean God has forsaken you and your faith is null and void? are there hurts which are unforgivable in a relationship? are there angry words that can never be shared and gotten past? etc.), the film managed to surprise me by going deeper, by daring to let the characters face their doubts, their pain, and their confusion -- and their faith and hope and forgiveness -- in a way that I found inspiring and quite encouraging, in the end.
Be sure to see this film, if you get the chance.
As a side-note, it was oddly satisfying to see Helen Hunt looking at least as old as her 39-year-old character, and Colin Firth looking just as yummy as ever (though delightfully rumpled as a single parent of young kids who hasn't had enough sleep in years and tends to blurt things out occasionally when a better-rested man might hold back) and being widly attracted to Hunt's character.
If you've seen the previews, you know that Hunt plays April Epner, who was adopted as a baby, and whose birth mother (played by Bette Midler) contacts her, out of the blue, just about the same time that April's hopes for a family of her own (husband and biological children) seem to be falling apart. What you don't see is the matter-of-fact way that April's faith -- the Jewish faith she was raised in and practices at least every Sabbath -- plays into the story of what happens to her when she has all these unexpected emotional curve balls thrown at her head (including the unexpected delight of Colin Firth as the perfect boyfriend), and how April copes with and survives it all.
Every time I thought this movie was going to go in a predictable direction and lay down some pat answer to a really complex question (is there a difference between being raised by adoptive parents and being raised by your biological parents, and if there is, would it necessarily be a detriment to the adoptive child? does a tragic loss mean God has forsaken you and your faith is null and void? are there hurts which are unforgivable in a relationship? are there angry words that can never be shared and gotten past? etc.), the film managed to surprise me by going deeper, by daring to let the characters face their doubts, their pain, and their confusion -- and their faith and hope and forgiveness -- in a way that I found inspiring and quite encouraging, in the end.
Be sure to see this film, if you get the chance.
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