Kay and Arnold Soames (Streep and Jones) have been married for thirty-one years. They no longer sleep in the same room, haven't had sex in close to five years, barely talk, and are not emotionally available to one another. Apparently this means that the marriage is in need of dire help. Kay takes the initiative to sign her and her hubby up for a marriage counseling trip to Maine to see Dr. Bernie Feld (Carrell), since he wrote a book on marriage and must be an expert. Arnold is against the counseling from the start, however he goes anyways, but is pretty cranky the entire time. Dr. Feld seeks to delve into these two characters' relationship and try and restore intimacy to a marriage that has become dormant over the years.
This goes without saying, but I love Meryl Streep. I have mentioned this multiple times on this blog and if you know me personally, chances are that I have told you this to your face. She is incredibly talented and can literally play any role. She looks different in every film and sometimes even gets fancy and dons an authentic foreign accent, all while transforming herself into another character. I feel like she is at her best playing real people, such as Julia Child in Julie & Julia and Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. However, she is good in Hope Springs, as well. So what if it's not a role worthy of Oscar recognition. Also, she has good chemistry with Tommy Lee Jones and it is evident that she loves this man, even after years of becoming emotionally distant and lacking intimacy. I got to admit I was disappointed when Jeff Bridges decided not to play the male lead. He and Streep would have been an awesome combination. However, Jones took over the role perfectly fine, and has some of the funniest lines in the film. Mostly mined from the character's cynical personality.
The film also is further proof that Steve Carrell is a talented actor. If you are expecting Steve Carrell to be hilariously funny like he was on The Office or in several of his films, then go watch one of those. In Hope Springs all of his dialogue is spoken from the same chair in the therapist's office and hardly any of it is meant to be funny. He had a simple role, consisting of forcing Streep and Jones' characters to open up to him and each other about the state of their marriage. Carrell may be done with television for a while, but he has a quite a career in movies, and I don't see him getting typecast like Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler in the same dumb comedies.
Also, the whole tone of the film was successfully executed and dealt with important topics. The movie is primarily a drama, with some funny lines and scenes (especially during the credits...so stay and watch them...all of them). It shows the importance of intimacy in marriage and being open to one another and telling your husband/wife your feelings. The film showed some of the setbacks that the couple faced as they were trying to do the exercises that Dr. Feld suggested they do to get physically closer to one another. This adds to the realism in the film, since no marriage is fixed instantly. Had there been no setbacks, the film would have gotten cheesy and stupid and I would not have been amused by the price of the ticket I bought.
Just so no one is surprised their is talk about sexuality in this film. But the characters are married...and having problems in that department, so stop being so sensitive. And some of it is actually quite funny.
Finally, this movie is way better than Marley & Me. David Frankel also directed that, and I was absolutely not a fan of it. He also directed The Devil Wears Prada, which I don't really remember, but apparently Meryl Streep was wonderful in it.
3 stars out 4. If you like the cast or films about restoring marriages, or just want to see Steve Carell sit in a chair, then by all means see it in theaters, or rent it. I understand movies are quite expensive.
-Joseph Sbrilli
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