Review of Hope Springs (2012) by Kenneth L — 29 Jul 2013

This is a well-acted, surprisingly frank movie that isn't quite the light-hearted comedy its poster promises. The story is very simple: Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are an older married couple who have grown distant over the years, and Kay finally decides that they should go see a couples therapist (Steve Carell) to resolve their issues, despite Arnold's reluctance. The movie's progression is so straightforward that it could double as an advertisement for couples counseling.

I expected the movie to have scenes of wackiness, and Carell's character to be at least a little odd, but neither of those happened at all. In sharp contrast with his character on The Office, Carell's character here is completely and utterly professional throughout the entire movie - it's like a how-to video for therapists. The discussions of sex are totally down-to-earth, with never a hint of silliness. The whole thing is so straight-faced that it actually might have been boring without two excellent actors like Streep and Jones to hold it together. But, being the actors they are, they do hold it together, and the resulting movie is successful, if never once surprising. Honestly, I think the ideal audience for this movie would be married couples wondering if they need counseling; if they do need counselling, then the movie will be their first step.