A strong candidate for the worst film I have ever seen, in fact it barely qualifies as a film at all, more like one long tortuous therapy session. OK I admit I'm not a Meryl Streep fan - I find her irritating mannerisms very tiresome and here she is worse than ever. But it's not just that; the whole thing is so hollow and frankly embarrassing. Needless to say it is also politically correct - Jones is the worst sort of grumpy old codger;it's all his fault the marriage has gone so stale. Streep is wimpy but angelic and hard done by. There is no way these two would've ever got together.No attempt is made to ask WHY things have got to where they are or what lurks in the background of their marriage. In any case the scenario is so unlike the reality which is that it's mostly women who pass on sex once the children come along. European audiences wince at the American tendency to seek out therapy as the answer to their problems. They know that being 'open' and talking frankly is a high-risk strategy likely to cause more problems that it solves. When Jones is asked about his secret fantasy he mentions the girl next door!! Spare me - we all know if he tried to explain his REAL fantasy,Streep would have the divorce papers on the breakfast table next day..A truly awful film.
Review of Hope Springs
