I must confess I had never even heard of this film before my local art house picked it up, and had no idea what it might be.  Actually, that situation is a wonderful way to experience a movie, for I had no expectations whatsoever.  Unfortunately it also indicates that the studio has spent little or no money on advertising.  Perhaps that will change with word of mouth and the realization that it is quite a nice little movie.

Bruce Beresford’s film is a tale of friendship.  Single mother Marie (Natascha McElhone) is “deeded” a cook — the titular Mr. Church (Eddie Murphy) — for a period of months by the estate of her deceased lover, the father of her daughter Charlotte (Natalie Coughlin, later Britt Robertson).  The arrangement lasts long after it is supposed to expire, however, and Charlotte, better known as Charlie, gradually learns to appreciate Mr. Church’s stabilizing effect on her life.

Anyone expecting Eddie Murphy to yuk it up like he did during the 1980s will be disappointed — yet Murphy’s portrayal is nuanced and incisive.  It isn’t great; I didn’t care much for his late night drunken entrance scenes, but I think that is because the script doesn’t give him much worthwhile to mumble in those pallid scenes.  Still, it’s great to see him back on the big screen, carrying a movie with his talent as an actor.  He is balanced quite nicely by Britt Robertson, a now familiar face to moviegoers, whose character could also have used some further fleshing-out.

The film works because of the sincere performances and script.  Despite its flaws Susan McMartin’s script has much to say about how people relate to one another and why it is so important that they do so.  It glosses over important plot points but really zeroes in on the human side of this unusual arrangement.  It also gains power as it moves along; its cumulative effect is quite powerful.  It is rated PG-13 for language, and is a quiet little story well worth watching.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  22 September 2016.