[Movie Review] Enough Said (2013)

Posted on September 27, 2013 by thegrandshuckett in Movie Reviews // 0 Comments

Plot Summary: A divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband.

Director: Nicole Holofcener

Writer: Nicole Holofcener

Runtime: 93 min

Main Cast:

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Eva
Tracey Fairaway as Ellen
Toni Collette as Sarah
Ben Falcone as Will
Catherine Keener as Marianne
James Gandolfini as Albert
Tavi Gevinson as Chloe

Review: by Anthony and Lee

We didn't know much about Enough Said going into it other than that it was one of James Gandolfini's last performances and that it was a comedy. That was enough for us.

What We Liked:

The main characters were very well written. James Gandolfini’s character, Albert, was specifically spectacular. As the movie progressed and we learned more about him, he became our favorite character. He was funny, charming, and kind. It was not only the writing that accomplished this, however; Gandolfini was perfect for the role and really made it believable.

The parent/child relationships were thoroughly developed and really displayed the reality of the separation anxiety that both parents and children experience when the children are preparing to leave home for the first time. At times, the children seemed moody and rebellious, but that is truly the way that teenagers express their anxiety. It was all very realistic.

Eva’s friends, Sarah and Will, were great. Their petty marital spats were comedic gold. Seeing them snipe at each other and jump into others’ arguments, taking sides, was a highlight of the film.

The subplots had some great running jokes, especially that of Sarah, Will, and their maid.

What We Didn’t Like:

The movie was truly a depiction of modern-day society, particularly in dealing with a matter to which we hold strong objections. It was not the movie’s fault for capturing and reflecting this social norm. We do not strongly fault the movie for it, but it bears conveying. In the film, being on a second marriage in one’s mid to late 40’s was portrayed as so commonplace, so normal, and so pedestrian. To us, it came off like the idea of marriage is not “til death do us part” but rather “til we get tired of one another.” Marriage is not taken seriously anymore. It is portrayed as similar to a cell phone contract that can be voided at the owner’s whim rather than a lifetime commitment. Our personal feelings about society’s views on marriage tainted our enjoyment of the movie, but not everyone feels as we do.

Summary

Enough Said was a nice, simple comedy about realistic relationships. It was genuine and interesting, and despite its portrayal of an aspect of society with which we take issue, we enjoyed it.

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