Hope Springs (2012)
Sexual references and mature themes
| Director: | David Frankel |
| Actors: | Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, Jean Smart, Marin Ireland, Ben Rappaport, Patch Darragh |
After thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship.
| Status: | HighDemand |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 100mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
Eternal flame
by Richard Haridy, 18/12/2012 3:29:00 PM
Don't be fooled by the promotional material; Hope Springs is not a comedy. It's actually something much more interesting: an adult drama dealing with adult issues in a minimalist way. Unlike the cloying contrivances of Something's Gotta Give and It's Complicated, Hope Springs is audacious in its commitment to subtle authenticity, never artificially upping the dramatic stakes but instead staying true to its small yet relatable story. Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones play Kay and Arnold, a married couple on the eve of their 31st wedding anniversary. Kay and Arnold seem to live their lives on autopilot, floating through a daily routine entirely disconnected from one another, even sleeping in separate rooms. Kay's dissatisfaction with her husband's lack of intimacy leads her to drag him to a ...
Don't be fooled by the promotional material; Hope Springs is not a comedy. It's actually something much more interesting: an adult drama dealing with adult issues in a minimalist way. Unlike the cloying contrivances of Something's Gotta Give and It's Complicated, Hope Springs is audacious in its commitment to subtle authenticity, never artificially upping the dramatic stakes but instead staying true to its small yet relatable story.
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones play Kay and Arnold, a married couple on the eve of their 31st wedding anniversary. Kay and Arnold seem to live their lives on autopilot, floating through a daily routine entirely disconnected from one another, even sleeping in separate rooms. Kay's dissatisfaction with her husband's lack of intimacy leads her to drag him to a coastal resort town and a series of therapy sessions with relationship counsellor Dr. Feld (a remarkably low-key Steve Carrell).
The rest of the picture follows this couple as they try to re-integrate an intimacy into their relationship that was lost many years ago. It's most impressive to see a Hollywood feature deal so candidly with the sexual ups and downs of a couple in their 60s. Both Streep and Jones are magnificent, with Streep in particular giving her best performance in years, infusing Kay with a sweetness that is just charming and avoiding the histrionic caricature that has filled her recent work.
Hope Springs isn't perfect. A defiant contention to keep its story small makes its pleasures occasionally too subtle, and director David Frankel's musical choices are nauseating at best – putting Al Green's Let's Stay Together over their lovemaking attempts and then dropping Lenny Kravitz's It Ain't Over Til It's Over near the conclusion ought to send Frankel directly to movie jail for a year - but the flaws are minor in what ultimately is an honest story. In our current climate of big, loud, inane mainstream product, Hope Springs is a fascinating anomaly. While exploring the sexual problems of a middle-aged couple, it wilfully refuses to spice itself up with dramatic fireworks. Hope Springs is a breath of fresh air.
3.5/5
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Member Reviews (39)
39 Member
Reviews
cherry_bobby
says
Amusing; well acted
Lisa
says
Brilliant, funny, great acting. I am not a big Meryl Streep fan but she was very believable. Just a really great enjoyable movie, highly recommended.
ruski
says
Loved this movie, covers all the awkward bits in any relationship but has laughs too
great girls nite in movie
Margit
says
A good movie yes there old, but thats life.
Darren
says
A very good movie about the point of marriage and life in your twilight years. Hits home with most couples!
says
Thought provoking. Shows how important communication is.
Bev Mott
says
A light fun movie with a good ending
jenetta
says
great film except they are both old and the idea of oldie sex is not great. nice touching emotional moments and some interesting views put across though. she was a bit of a ditz though
Lisa
says
This movie is about an older couple trying to find the passion in their marraige again. It was a bit slow but in the end it all worked out for everybody.
Geoff @gol
says
If your a baby boomer you will feel a little uncomfortable sometimes ie "been there done that" but hang in there you might learn something & change !. Streep brilliant as usual ( love the banana scene) Jones rough & tough. Words that come to mind are intimate, awkward, gentle, painful, heartwarming,indifferent, anger, cruel, resentful, encouraging, truth, put them altogether and you have an unusual but quality movie. Recommended
MLV
says
Beautiful.
Olwen Dawson
says
I loved this but my husband was no so keen. They were both very good actors.
Pam Schofield
says
Acting great but movie a bit SLOW
Jen B
says
This is a gentle and heartwarming film. The awkward moments only serve to portray with painful accuracy the personal journey of married couples. Meryl Streep is perfect as the all too agreeable wife who has reached the point of wanting more and steps off the edge of her all too-familiar existence with complete faith. Tommy Lee Jones is the perfect cranky husband who is dragged along kicking and screaming. Through them we see how life can change us without us even realising until we wake up one day and find our lives not to our liking. Steve Carrell steps out of his usual character roles into one of gentle guide, he is the perfect therapist, regardless of Jones vitriol. We watch their natural transformation, relieved at the outcome with our faith in our own ability to change renewed. Of course being able to relate intimately to the situations the film explores helps.
says
Good acting but a sad movie. Definitely not a comedy too true to life. Felt rather uncomfortable watching it with my husband although he did go out and buy me some chocolate at the end of the movie.
says
sometimes films like this should not be inflicted on couples married more than 40 years; a bit close to the bone here and there. expected a bit more of a lighthearted approach, even a comedy maybe. however, a well made film with extremely good performances from the leads. but not necessarily a film i would recommend.
Ian
says
Tommy Lee Jones is underrated... Great performance against a legendary actress... Steve Carell was perfectly cast... Loved it
PoetLaurieate
says
More sad than funny - all the jokes in the trailer are all you're going to get. I wanted more laughter instead of a consultants couch.
Rachelle
says
I liked this movie and so did my mother. It is easy to watch and at times a bit teary.
Harlowe
says
Quite light and enjoyable. But I found Meryl Streep's character just a little too pathetic. Which in turn made me lack a certain amount of sympathy. I could clout and sympathise with her husband at the same time. Mars and Venus to put it all very simply in a lot of ways. I thought the standout here was without question, the gentle, earnest and perfectly balanced performance by Steve Carell. One of his best yet.
says
A bit slow in parts but overall I did enjoy the movie. Both Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep play very good roles and good departure for Steve Carrall.
says
Yawn!!! I'm still waiting for the storyline!!!
motza
says
not bad for a chick flick
karen
says
OK Just average watching, a little slow
Lee
says
Really nice movie.
j
says
Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep are both perfectly cast. A bit short on laughs but looks at some important issues that are often ignored in Hollywood movies.
Vic
says
How many couples have you seen or know that exhibit the behaviour of Kay and Arnold in this movie? Long married and in a rut of indifferent and passive aggressive exchanges. Lacking intimacy but prevented from rapprochement by a wall of past refusals and resentment built brick by brick over their long time together. The loss of communication means that intimacy is impossible. I agree with those that find this movie uncomfortable because it is so real. Streep is brilliant as the quiet loving and uncomplaining wife but determined to re-establish the intimacy of their earlier life. Jones does an equally good job in the difficult role of smouldering, uncommunicative and resentful husband, deflecting his anger into never ending and exhausting cynicism. The way out is not easy but the sessions with the therapist played by Carell provide some welcome light relief . The sound track is cutesy at times and the resolution perhaps too predictable but still a very worthwhile look-see.
Michelle
says
Two great actors making it real. You just have to forget about MIB.. Not for laughs but a valuable message for couples in their twilight years trying to keep the fire alive.. and the door open!
says
Really enjoyed this movie about love and sex for we older couples...the soundtrack sometimes was a bit jarring, detracting from the scene instead of enhancing it...otherwise a feel good mix of serious and humour...
LSN
says
Not bad! For older generation...always like Meryl S.
Angelika
says
Pretty good, but though it would be a lot funnier.
says
Very enjoyable movie
Kim
says
This is not a rofl comedy but it is very enjoyable. You feel like you want to slap the 2 main characters to get them to stand up for themselves or to wake up to themselves. Also liked Steve Carell as the therapist and his non-emotional delivery of each of their tasks.
Ann E.
says
This is a very difficult movie to review. . . . . as a married women of 30 years it was a little too close to reality to be comfortable, certainly not a movie that a younger couple (if you were newly married you would give up before you started! ! !) would enjoy and not a romantic comedy as I was expecting. The acting is excellent even though I didn't find the characters very likeable. Over all a very depressing movie to watch but have given it 3 stars as it is well acted and it does eventually have a nice ending? ? ? ? ?
A friend told me she felt like reading 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' again after watching this movie! ! ! ! ! LOL
Phil
says
So well acted and totally agree with Kimbo's review.
says
Not really sure who would enjoy this movie. Definitely not if you're young!! Uncomfortable for me watching it with my elderly parents who have endured a similar marriage bereft of intimacy....
It is not a comedy...all the amusing clips are in the trailer. The acting is spot on though and if you're a couple in trouble maybe see this movie to kick start some discussion on your intimacy issues before seeing the therapist !!!!!!
says
It was painful to watch at times. Old people and sexual relations does not make for enjoyable watching. Yuk
Kim
says
Meryl Streep what were you thinking? This movie has two of my favourite actors in it and is so disappointing. Both characters were so unlikeable that you just wished they would divorce and get it over with!
kimbo
says
The plot seemed simple enough, a marriage in trouble, but when you have Streep and Jones you expect a treat and they did not disappoint at all. The scenes where they are sitting with the therapist you can cut the tension with a knife. You expect Streep to be brilliant and she is, but Jones more than holds his own. It is difficult to play a man who is unable to be vulnerable and he truly excelled.