Hope Springs

source: Hope Springs

I was so excited to watch this 'seemingly' entertaining movie. All the good stuff was shown in the preview and the rest is garbage. Don't bother. Meryl Streep was, well, Meryl Streep. I find she has one role that she is capable of acting and they write movies to fit her in as the actress. I like Tommy Lee Jones as an actor, but THIS is definitely not the role for him. I was very disappointed in this movie and how they portrayed it to be something better/different in the previews. It was not all that entertaining - in fact it was uncomfortable to watch at times. There was no connection between Streep and Jones - which was possibly the biggest disappointment of all. Carrell, on the other hand, was outstanding in his role - and as always, did not disappoint. He didn't have much to work with, so he made up for where the script lacked. And it lacked A LOT!

Considering the word "funny" appeared on the box twice, you might expect a bit of humor. And you would be disappointed. I made the mistake of watching this with my wife on our anniversary, and it is seriously depressing. A "feel good romantic comedy"? To consider this a comedy, I would have to delight in the suffering of others, because that's all you get. I'm not expecting slapstick, but I was expecting some wit and gentle humor. Instead, all this film does is give a slice of life as to the struggles of a couple who have grown apart. Had this been presented as a drama, or even a "dramedy," I might be a bit more patient with it. But it is presented as a comedy and it fails... our moods were actually worse by the time the credits rolled.

I saw it the first time 10 years ago when it came out, and I was 16. It was the first time ever I saw or heard people over 50 in combination with sex. Because of that, this movie was a big deal to me. It's also warm, genuine and striking, touching. I watched it again today and yeah, it's an important movie I think. I genuinely thought retirees didn't have sex. Sure a kiss on the cheek and a touch on the arm when passing each other, maybe cuddling before sleep. But I thought that when you became older for most people the lust and desire just vanished, like, physically. Just want to say, this movie deserves a higher score than the 6.3 it currently has, and it, well, it springs hope.

a fine cast, a humorous trailer, and decent reviews led me to think this would be a good movie. i was wrong. the plot was hackneyed and predictable. boring, boring, and did i mention boring? if you've ever been to couples therapy or know someone who has, then there's no reason to see this movie. nothing happens. the couple sits on the sofa, the therapist makes supportive and inane comments and gives them assignments meant to bring intimacy back into their marriage. was the whole budget spent on streep's salary? is that why there were few scenes outside the therapist's office? after being together for 31 years, you'd think these people would know something about each other; obviously not. plus the fine supporting cast gets a few lines each. were they being paid by the word? i tried to get a refund half-way through but the manager said, "sorry we can't guarantee you'll like a movie when you buy your ticket." words to remember.

A very profound, yet humorous movie about a married couple who have lost the spark in their marriage. Their relationship became platonic after thirty four years. The wife's effort to revitalize the marriage was failing so she finally talked her hubby into seeking mutual counseling. The rest of the movie is full of good old fashioned belly laugh humor. The movie contains very adult situations and I would not recommend it for young people. The marriage counselor is excellent in his role as an adviser. I find the movie to be profound because of the hidden messages that it projects. Any married couple will see themselves in some of the scenes. The movie definitely promotes food for thought.

"Hope Springs" was an often uncomfortable watch. It's subject matter felt like eavesdropping on a couple's intimate quarrel and not in a good way. The movie made me squirm and fast-forward past awful sex-talk counselling. This wasn't really comedic at all; it's just a straight lack of integrity. There are a few chuckles and some cathartic type moments thanks to the acting talents, but this movie is not what I was expecting or entertaining You can get similar information from books or websites. Instead of characters being able to work things out or not through their own, we get a video-style shrink session with Steve Carrell. And the horrible cringeworthy intimacy foibles as well as heavy-handed music video "why" by Annie Lennox - ugh. Do not recommend. 4/10

My wife and I are in the middle of watching this wretched film. Man, I can't take any more. Please.... make.... it.... stop.... Now, to the actual review. It's bad, bad, really, really bad. In reality, that doesn't even begin to describe it. It's beyond really, really bad---way beyond. It's so bad that I can't even find a word for how bad it is. Ghastly? No, that's not nearly strong enough. Vile? No, it's worse than that. Truly painful to watch (and I watch Svengoolie all the time). I'm definitely going to have nightmares. Finally, I'm willing to wager that at least 90% of the positive reviews are from married women over the age of 50, where the roles are exactly the opposite of those in the movie. That is, the woman is the one who is not keen on sex, not the husband.

I love Tommy Lee Jones. I love Meryl Streep...but in all honesty, this movie was embarrassing to watch. Totally. Embarrassing. I was embarrassed FOR the actors and BECAUSE of the actors. It was awkwardly written, awkwardly executed and awkwardly acted. Tommy Lee is a phenomenal actor, but in one scene, he's leaning over Meryl and all you could see was this gigantic FACE (which, I might add, was a weird color?) and it was not attractive. Were I Meryl, I would have had a difficult time not shrieking to high heaven. He looked like a character from Men In Black. Not attractive. Nope. And his crusty curmudgeon thing is getting kind of old. Meryl is too mature and accomplished to be playing a nervous simpleton wife. Sad to think that these two stellar people were put in such an awkward and awful "romantic" comedy. It wasn't the beautiful re-connection of two people that truly love each other--it was just an embarrassment. Yikes.

Fairly painful to watch. I am not a prude, but watching sixty-somethings go on and on about sex, in their awkward way just got more and more icky. The production values, of course, were fine. They got a really talented supporting cast, and didn't give them very much to do. Tommy Lee Jones went against type and did very well with the shyness and discomfort of the situation. Steve Carrell (also against type) played it completely straight, without any glimpse of being the (often unrealizing) buffoon. And, of course, Meryl Streep, probably our finest living actress. She can hit the perfect notes on just about ANY role, and she does so here, playing it (in the words of Roger Ebert) determined but girlish. I moved my rating up at least ten percent just because of her. But I still could not recommend it.