By Teri Bayus
“Hello, My Name Is Doris,” is a sweet, profound, gem of a movie revolving around a terminally shy and a bit disturbed older lady performed brilliantly by Sally Field.
I found the writing so tight, funny, endearing, and wonderful, it played right to our heartstrings without being a sappy cliché. It also served as a dichotomy of viewing of the difference between the Millennial generation and the Baby Boomers, which was a different twist from any other movie.
The young ones have knitting circles and talk about organic food items they create, versus just partying and getting trashed.
The plot wavers between absurdity, melancholy, and finally, comedy. The scene where a rock star declares that Doris would be ideal for the cover of his next album is a bundle of sad, strange, and hysterical. Another scene follows where Doris poses for the album cover in some very un-Doris-like poses. I loved the taking of her out of place and time.
This is a romantic comedy about an older woman with a younger man. Doris (Field) is the older, never been married woman in her 60s who has just lost her mother after being her caretaker for years.
John (played by Max Greenfield) is the younger man that starts working at Doris’s place of employment and steals her heart. Doris’s best friend, Roz (Tyne Daly), had been taking her to seminars of a self-help guru (Peter Gallagher) and gets Doris believing that she should go for the things in life that she wants.
Best line ever? “I’m Possible!” Her brother, Stephen, thinks she is being foolish and should act her age. Doris doesn’t want to turn into what her mother was, a cat loving hoarder, but her friends and horrible family seem to think she will unless she makes some changes, then resents those changes.
The scenes between Doris and Roz’s 13-year-old granddaughter were epic. Doris’ exploration of Facebook and subsequent online stalking of her boss, explains that medium perfectly.
Director Michael Showalter expertly balances the humor and pathos, embracing his lead character’s kooky demeanor, while making her a flesh-and-blood “everywoman,” thanks largely to the wonderful work by Sally Field (I think it’s Oscar worthy) and his collaborative script with Laura Terruso (based on her short film).
They have created a funny, poignant, sweetheart of a film. Every actor in the movie is amazing, and the writing manages to balance both the intensity of her loneliness and the sadness in her dreams. There are very funny moments here, yet we never forget where these situations are coming from.
I was not sure about this movie and took my girlfriend in case we needed to run to Margarita’s after the viewing. I was rewarded by a beautiful and stimulating movie. The characters were all fully flushed and interesting, the situations absurd enough to be thought provoking but believable, and the acting was stellar. This is a must see for everyone.
Teri Bayus is the Host of Taste Buds, shown on Charter Channel 10, KSBY, CW and on Central Coast Now.TV. Her culinary erotic book, “Consumed” is available at www.amazon.com/Consumed-Teri-Bayus-ebook/dp/B016DW85PA. Dinner and a Movie is a regular feature of Tolosa Press.