Then She Found Me Review
Helen Hunt and Bette Midler Star in This Character Drama
Helen Hunt Writes, Directs and Stars in this film about adoption and motherhood. Matthew Broderick, Colin Firth and Bette Midler Co-Star
It is clear that care, passion and heart were involved in the making of Then She Found Me. Director Helen Hunt has crafted a clever and insightful look at the neuroses that stem from adoption and motherhood, while demonstrating a self-assured and consistent hand. Unfortunately, this film also shows signs of first-time filmmaking; suffering from occasional staginess and contrivance.
Helen Hunt as Anxious Adoptive Mother
April Epner (Helen Hunt) is a 39-year-old schoolteacher who feels her biological clock ticking. Experiencing ambivalence about her adoption, April is adamant about having a child of her own through conventional means, while feeling an overall sense of comfort (and occasional frustration) with her sick mother (Lynn Cohen).
A snag is thrown into her plans when Ben (Matthew Broderick), her strangely immature husband, decides that he doesn’t want to be married anymore; sending her off with a goodbye boink on the kitchen floor. Subsequently, her mother passes away, only to be immediately replaced by Bernice (Bette Midler), an abrasive and self-involved talk show host who claims to be April’s biological mother. While coping with all of this, April pursues an idiosyncratic relationship with Frank (Colin Firth); a father to one of her students.
Secondary Characters Lack Dimension
As this film is essentially the telling of April’s story, it is no surprise that the chief focus of development is on her character. She is well sketched, demonstrating self-deprecating humour, believable insecurities and surprisingly logical mood swings. Her plight is handled with care without bridging to either cliché or tragedy. Sadly, the secondary characters in the film were not given as much thought, as both Ben and Frank act more as ciphers for April’s development than as believable human beings on their own.
Then She Found Me" Over-Directed by Hunt
Hunt’s direction shows an understanding of pacing and tone, as the overall structure of the film is clever and subtle. On the other hand, individual scenes are often quite stagy and awkward, struggling with actor chemistry and naturalistic reactions. One is always aware that the film is being directed. The writing suffers from a similar flaw, which finds the same syntax and vernacular being spouted from different characters with varying motivations. It’s distracting and detracts from some of the integrity of the film.
Helen Hunt and Bette Midler Stand-Outs
The performances throughout are mostly solid. Helen Hunt clearly crafted this character to her strengths, finding a connection with the struggles and insecurities of April that translates well onto film. As well, Bette Midler intuitively underplayed her potentially stereotypical, over-the-top character; giving her greater depth than was provided on the page. The men in the film fare reasonably well, considering that they’re given unrealistic character tics and some atrocious dialogue to spout.
Then She Found Me is a decent, if flawed, movie, which seems to have a strangely cynical overall message of resisting struggle and settling for life’s disappointments. Fans of female-centric character dramas should be pleased. That audience may also appreciate Margot at the Wedding.
