Then She Found Me

PLEASE- DON'T let this whiny, selfish, humorless- and *always* scowling Helen Hunt- centered piece of garbage put you off reading Eleanor Lipman's sweet, gentle, humorous novel.

This DRECK only resembles the book in title and that a few of the characters bear the same name as in the book. The resemblance dies there- not even the first few (stupid, off-putting story) lines of this dope-us are from the book.

Skip this "film" and read Ms. Lipman's sweet, charmingly low-key novel.

Ok, I tried. I really, really tried not to compare the movie with the book. I loved the book, a tender, poignant journey of love in which April, albeit unwillingly, learns to accept the difficult person who gave birth to her and slowly learns the devastating truth of her past. But Elinor Lipman says she does not mind the fact that Helen Hunt basically took her book and scissored away everything but a few names and the center plot of the book, and came up with this idiotic film about ticking biological clocks instead.

But I have to wonder, how can she not mind? This hash of a movie bears little resemblance to what it was based on, so why did Helen Hunt not just find someone to write a new screenplay about a woman who wanted to have a baby? Why did she take a brilliant story, with fabulous characters, and turn it into this really rather dumb movie?

In the book, Bernice is difficult but ultimately complex and suprisingly sympathetic by the end, but Bette Midler's Bernice is just a cardboard cutout of the same person. And it's a shame, because Midler would have played the "real" Bernice beautifully if she had had a decent script to work with. And in the book, April is a bit uptight, but not the brittle, haggard neurotic that is portrayed here. And while Colin Firth is, as usual, great to look at, his character is poorly written as well. The male "hero" of the book, Dwight, and his relationship with April, are so appealing, that I cannot believe these two annoying men and their shallow interactions with the main character are supposed to replace that.

I did give this movie two stars because I liked Salman Rushdie playing the part of the doctor and I liked the sweet little twist at the end. But the whole time I watched it, I couldn't help thinking of the wonderful book at home on my shelf and asking, "Why, oh why, did someone have to screw it up so very badly?"

You would think that with Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick you would have a hit comedy...guess again. I love all of these actors and actresses separately; but together in this movie, I have to say that it left me a little cold. I asked myself how this could be and I think that a major problem was casting; I just could not believe Matthew Broderick acting in that way towards Helen Hunt (unless he was still playing Ferris Bueller as one poster humorously pointed out); Colin Firth in this part was not believable and Bette Midler certainly did not come across as Mom.

I think Helen Hunt saved the day. April Epner (Hunt) is thrown into a tizzy when her child husband (Ben) abandons her and moves back with his own Mom. Hunt is left to find her own way; along that trail she meets Colin Firth (one of her student's fathers) and encounters or is more accosted by Bette Midler who we come to find out is April's biological mother. How April loses and finds love and all of the discoveries she makes about her personal relationships never quite amount to the self discovery she makes about herself and what she wants out of life and what she wants from herself and others.

The cast is great; but for me there was a big something missing. It was quite simply an unexpected let down. But for those staying in on a rainly afternoon, this is a movie which may help you pass the time (if you are for example in the woods without any transportation and cannot find anything else to do).

Not an awful film; but not a great one either - 3 stars

Bentley/2008

This vendor:
1. took too long to get the product too me - TWO WEEKS - arrived PAST THE LAST DUE DATE.
2. Never responded to my questions/complaints.
3. I don't think they shipped the product on the day they said. I think they shipped at the last minute AFTER I started complaining.

I really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was very well written and each actor gave a wonderful performance. I'm glad Helen Hunt was finally able to get this story on film. Bravo!