Jones, Streep Try Sex Therapy; Chris Rock’s Rubes: Movies
A Lifetime remake of “Scenes From a Marriage” might resemble “Hope Springs,” a stale-marriage dramedy powered by Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones.
Over-powered, in fact. Streep and especially Jones deliver vital performances that almost make the familiar story of a sex- starved marriage seem as fresh as it might have been in a pre- Dr. Ruth world.
Celebrating their 31st anniversary by splurging on a new cable TV package, Kay and Arnold (even their names seem dated) long ago settled into a passion-free empty nest. She cooks eggs every morning, he falls asleep watching golf every night.
After a humiliating failed seduction, the emotionally wounded Kay insists on a week-long marriage retreat with a renowned therapist (Steve Carell). Arnold begrudgingly traipses along from Omaha to the quaint Maine getaway -- the town that provides the punning title -- complaining the entire way.
Slickly directed by David Frankel (“The Devil Wears Prada”) “Hope Springs” doesn’t soft-pedal Arnold’s cruel emotional bullying.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about this,” he spits after the shrink encourages honesty. “I hate it.” The screenplay, by Vanessa Taylor (whose credits include HBO (TWX)’s brutally incisive couples drama “Tell Me You Love Me”), has more sting than Frankel can handle.
Even after the movie signals its mushy destination -- often to the accompaniment of on-the-nose song choices like “Let’s Stay Together” -- “Hope Springs” surprises with moments of intimacy, sexual and otherwise.
But like the marriage it depicts, the film settles into routine. Counseling sessions (Carell’s dialogue is little more than a set-list of shrink questions, agreeably performed) alternate with Kay and Arnold’s homework: “sexercises,” advancing from cuddling to consummation.
Though the racy encounters are timed to comic beats -- Streep overdoes the blushing, even as Kay purchases bananas for practice -- the sexercises typically end in hurt feelings and tears.
With the slightest change in tone (Mike Nichols was initially attached to direct), “Hope Springs” could have been much darker, and something more memorable than two fine actors showing their stuff.
“Hope Springs,” from Columbia Pictures, opens today across the U.S. Rating: **1/2 (Evans)
Two Days
How you feel about “2 Days in New York” will depend on your tolerance for the adorable. Mine is limited, though I like watching Julie Delpy (who directed and co-wrote) and Chris Rock.
They play Marion and Mingus, an artist and a radio talk- show host living together happily enough with kids from previous relationships until her family invades.
The occupying army numbers three: her father (Albert Delpy, the director’s real father), her sister (Alexia Landeau) and her sister’s obnoxious boyfriend (Alex Nahon), who’s also her ex. (They all played the same roles in Delpy’s 2007 “2 Days in Paris.”)
Whether their conduct is merely inappropriate or truly sociopathic is up for debate. (The boyfriend invites over a drug dealer, for example, who sells him grass in front of the kids.) What it’s not is funny.
More stabs at cuteness include Marion using hand puppets to fill in her child, and the audience, on the picture’s back story. Mingus tells his troubles to a life-size cut-out of President Obama.
When a neighbor complains about the family’s behavior, Marion flusters her, Lucille Ball style, by claiming to have cancer. The woman’s husband, a doctor, soon shows up at the door, offering to help. Once he spies Marion’s half-dressed sister, he doesn’t want to leave. I did, though.
“2 Days in New York,” from Magnolia Pictures, opens Friday across the country. Rating: ** (Seligman)
What the Stars Mean: ***** Fantastic **** Excellent *** Very Good ** Good * Poor (No stars) Avoid
(Greg Evans and Craig Seligman are critics for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Opinions expressed are their own.)
Muse highlights include Ryan Sutton on restaurants and James Pressley on books.
To contact the writers on the story: Greg Evans at gregeaevans@yahoo.com. Craig Seligman at cseligman@mindspring.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff in New York at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
'2 Days in New York'
Walter Thompson/Magnolia Pictures via Bloomberg
Chris Rock and Julie Delpy in "2 Days in New York." The Magnolia Pictures release opens Friday, Aug. 10, 2012.
Chris Rock and Julie Delpy in "2 Days in New York." The Magnolia Pictures release opens Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. Photographer: Walter Thompson/Magnolia Pictures via Bloomberg
'2 Days in New York'
Jojo Whilden/Magnolia Pictures via Bloomberg
Albert Delpy and Chris Rock star in "2 Days in New York." Albert Delpy plays an actor and director Julie Delpy's father, and is also her real father.
Albert Delpy and Chris Rock star in "2 Days in New York." Albert Delpy plays an actor and director Julie Delpy's father, and is also her real father. Photographer: Jojo Whilden/Magnolia Pictures via Bloomberg
'2 Days in New York'
Walter Thompson/Magnolia Pictures via Bloomberg
Chris Rock and Julie Delpy in "2 Days in New York." Rock and Delpy are Mingus and Marion, a radio talk-show host and an artist.
Chris Rock and Julie Delpy in "2 Days in New York." Rock and Delpy are Mingus and Marion, a radio talk-show host and an artist. Photographer: Walter Thompson/Magnolia Pictures via Bloomberg
'Hope Springs'
Barry Wetcher/Columbia Pictures via Bloomberg
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as Kay and Arnold Soames in Columbia Pictures' "Hope Springs." The film is directed by David Frankel, who worked with Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada."
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as Kay and Arnold Soames in Columbia Pictures' "Hope Springs." The film is directed by David Frankel, who worked with Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada." Photographer: Barry Wetcher/Columbia Pictures via Bloomberg
'Hope Springs'
Barry Welthcer/Columbia Pictures via Bloomberg
Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in "Hope Springs." The film is playing across the U.S.
Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in "Hope Springs." The film is playing across the U.S. Photographer: Barry Welthcer/Columbia Pictures via Bloomberg
'Hope Springs'
Barry Welthcer/Columbia Pictures via Bloomberg
Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep and Steve Carell in "Hope Springs." Carell plays Jones and Streep's therapist Dr. Bernard Feld.
Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep and Steve Carell in "Hope Springs." Carell plays Jones and Streep's therapist Dr. Bernard Feld. Photographer: Barry Welthcer/Columbia Pictures via Bloomberg
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