Review of Smashed (2012) by Manny C — 29 Dec 2012

You might groan at the prospect of yet another addiction drama, a cinema hallmark since The Lost Weekend, Days of Wine and Roses and on through Leaving Las Vegas and When a Man Loves a Woman. You could perhaps even include the recent hot mess that was tv's Liz & Dick.

And who could blame you for any potential eye roll. Smashed isn't too different from the rest of the pack, save for its unflinching humor, but easily the best thing it has going for it is the unforgettable and terrific performance from Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Winstead is Kate Hannah, the wife of Charlie (terrific Aaron Paul of tv's Breaking Bad), who tries as a wannabe composer that enjoys getting hammered as much as his boozing wife. Charlie, who essentially does nothing with his life but hang with his friends, feels he has control of his drinking.

Kate, a third grade teacher in L.A., has that illusion shattered for herself when she vomits heavily in front of her class. She only manages to get out of trouble with the school principal (Megan Mullaly, in fine form) by lying about a pregnancy.

It's when the school's vice-principal, himself a recovering alcoholic played by a brilliantly restrained and touching Nick Offerman of tv's Parks and Recreation, coaxes Kate to attend an AA meeting that she realizes a change is in order.

She's aided by a sponsor, (Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer, wonderfully affecting), who knows the recovery game inside and out, but finds her struggle to stay clean separating her from Charlie. He still drinks, and offers support, but also aches for her to come back to the fun.

But sobriety is something she has to accomplish herself, especially since her oblivious mother (Mary Kay Place, wow) is a top enabler. There's a ton of familiar ground in Smashed, but writer-director James Ponsoldt skillfully shies away from easy sentiment, making Smashed a remarkable addiction drama for a generation of viewers too savvy for goo and more tolerant of cringe-worthy humor.

This comes off best in Winstead's performance. Best known as a staple of genre films from Death Proof to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World to The Thing, Winstead is dynamite. She imbues Kate with scrappy wit, intelligence and humor that can leave bruises as well as heal.

Any smart Academy voter would include her on their short lists of Best Actresses. She's downright smashing.