THEN SHE FOUND ME
RYAN: This movie isn’t even that sad, but I cried five times during it. It’s the most I’ve ever cried in a movie. You know me; I never cry! I was just so moved by this film.
CAROLINE: In case you’ve been wondering what Helen Hunt’s been up to for the last eight years, other than appearing in a couple small movies, now you know. She’s been working on “Then She Found Me,” which she directed and stars in.
RYAN: I love her so much. And as a director, she was clearly able to use her celebrity outreach plan to get lots of stars in this movie including Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Janeane Garafalo, Edie Falco and Tim Robbins.
CAROLINE: Not to mention the very hot Colin Firth. This movie is based on a book about an adopted woman trying to figure out her family life. I liked the beginning, but then as it went along, I started to flag a little. It was a little slow, but not boring. I started to lose patience with Helen Hunt though. I don’t love her like you do.
RYAN: Sometimes her voice annoys me, but in this movie she has some intense acting moments that are so good. When she’s just acting like a regular person, she’s fine, but it’s those hard acting scenes where she really shines.
CAROLINE: She does have some outstanding acting moments in this.
RYAN: I think this is one of my favorite movies of the year so far. The movie gets more intense as it goes on, and the five times I cried all happen in the second half. I really connected with this movie. For anyone who wants a mature, adult movie, this is a great one.
CAROLINE: It’s a troubling yet realistic look at relationships and marriage.
RYAN: And motherhood.
CAROLINE: It’s true. Case in point… Bette Midler.
RYAN: Betty is brillz in this. She’s giving her comedic hits till it hurts. And I mean that in the good kind of way. This really is a performance of hers to remember.
CAROLINE: And I have to say; Matthew Broderick looks exactly the same as he did in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” yet old and puffy at the same time.
RYAN: He’s more than puffy. Let’s just go ahead and say it: he’s flabby. And I don’t know how he gets away with it with a wife who looks as good as S.J.P.
CAROLINE: I also don’t understand why he perpetually wears sneakers.
RYAN: It’s some kind of Peter Pan syndrome.
CAROLINE: He’s 46 going on 22.
RYAN: BTW I loved the Judaism in this movie, and Helen Hunt spoke Hebrew as if she’d been doing it her whole life. I loved Bette Midler too, though I wish she’d gotten to sing. She’s so hilarious though. This movie is a real dramedy.
CAROLINE: There were some jokes of hers that really fell flat and I couldn’t tell if it was the writing or her delivery. The strange thing about Bette Midler is that I always think of her as kind of heavy, but when you see her body on camera she’s not fat at all. I think she just has a fat head.
RYAN: She has huge boobs and a tiny waist. She’s looking pretty god for her age.
CAROLINE: I agree, but she’s got a huge lid, that’s all I’m saying. And I don’t think Matthew Broderick was at the top of his acting game in this role. I liked Colin Firth a lot better. He was much more believable. Bottom line?
RYAN: This is one of the best movies of the year so far. I don’t know that I’m going to buy it on DVD, but if anyone’s looking for a great dramedy, I think this is up there with “Smart People.” S.J.P. and her husband both made great dramedies this month.
CAROLINE: LBH, there’s a lot more drama than comedy in “Then She Found Me.” I thought “Smart People” was acerbic and witty but slightly depressing, whereas this movie is pretty heavy with only a few light moments. I liked it and I think Helen Hunt did a good job directing, but I didn’t love it like you did. I found it a little heavy-handed.
RYAN: I’d wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone over 21. It’s a little mature for the younger set though.
CAROLINE: By the by, Helen Hunt felt free to barely do any hair and makeup on herself. She looks like a real woman in her 40s.
RYAN: She is so skinny! I love it.
CAROLINE: She’s too drawn for me. She looks pinched. I think she’s tired and hungry. She needs to fill out a little.