"Hope Springs" is a romantic drama starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a married couple, Kay and Arnold, who have lost the spark in their marriage. Kay decides they need to attend an intensive couples retreat in a small coastal Maine town run by Dr. Bernie Feld (played by Steve Carell). Arnold is hesitant to attend the retreat and even more hesitant about Dr. Bernie's plans for treatment.
I have to say I was a little surprised by this movie. I thought it would be more of a comedy especially with Steve Carell in it but it really was more of a thoughtful film about grown-up love. Rather than going for laughs or glossing over the couple's problems the film is much more realistic and raw. We see Kay's loneliness in her marriage and her longing for a more tender relationship with her husband. We also see Arnold's stubborn resistance and later him wanting to try to make Kay happy. Both Streep and Jones had very honest portrayals in this film and good chemistry together. I even liked Carell in this role though it's a different one than his usual. Only thing I really disliked was the soundtrack which was mainstream pop tunes played throughout the film. It was a bit much and kind of distracting from the acting at times.
Don't expect a comedy with this one but rather a thoughtful, well-acted drama about love that has lost its spark - B
haven't seen this one yet...
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