An AARP Love Story

Review: Hope Springs

The premise of the new film, Hope Springs, is nothing new or original: An older couple looks to fan the dwindling flames of a once fiery relationship by seeking counseling.

What has piqued the interest of several (usually older) movie-goers the past few weeks (to the tune of $45 million) are the stars cast to portray these geriatric protagonists: Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. Headlining films for decades, both are time-honored classics of their generation; living legends who usually live up to the legend.

Streep is, of course, the more recognized artist, with a variety of roles. From Doubt to The Devil Wears Prada, Streep is the most renowned actress alive today, and perhaps ever. The woman has been nominated for 14 Academy Awards, of which she has won 3 for goodness sake! So of course she does well yet again in Hope Springs, delivering a performance that may not be Oscar-worthy, or even one of her top ten, but is certainly believable as she constructs a character that is meeker than and not as extrovertly strong as her previous roles.

Of course the mantle in Jones's house isn't empty either, itself boasting an Oscar for The Fugitive (and perhaps 2 empty spots in honor of Jones's other 2 Academy Award nominations). If Streep was playing against type, Jones had the easier job of the two, mostly playing the character he is usually hired to play these days: a gruff, older man who doesn't like to talk about his feelings.

Famed critic Roger Ebert, in his review, uses five out of seven paragraphs to rave that a stellar performance from Jones is the sole and only necessary reason why any and everyone should see Hope Springs. I'll admit that Jones slowly evolves his character into a more complex individual, capable of as many smiles as he is frowns, but I'm afraid I disagree with the great Roger Ebert. Jones's performance, like Streep's, was a decent offering from an actor who can likely go through the motions of a performance like this one in his sleep.

However, while the talents on display might fail to astonish on their own, the humorous situations that the plot forces these characters into will certainly take you by surprise. It is a PG-13 movie, but the "intensive therapy" that the couple faces is just that, intensive. There is no nudity, but the audience is still present for a few somewhat unsettling scenes between the two retirees as they attempt to rekindle their passions (a prime example occurring in a movie theater).

If the movie tried to be funny on the basis of the topic of sex alone, it wouldn't be the heartfelt drama/comedy that it is, but would rather be yet another low-brow, raunchy comedy. What elevates Hope Springs is that the characters are just as uncomfortable with all the sex-talk as we are. As the therapist, Steve Carell (Crazy Stupid Love) calmly asks some very intimate questions and orders some very sensual exercises (or it could have been "sexercises," my friends and I weren't entirely sure which he was saying). Battling through the awkwardness with the characters is what endears them to us and makes the comedic moments so funny.

As a dialogue-driven film, Hope Springs, which I think could work out very well as a play, presents pretty good performances from Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as they are directed by David Frankel (Marley & Me) and work from a charming and surprisingly funny script from Vanessa Taylor (Game of Thrones). The ending is a bit rushed and a bit too convenient, but you don't have to be a senior citizen to forgive the bow-tied ending and appreciate what a pleasant and delightful little film Hope Springs is.

The Final Word: Wait to rent it.