First, let me state that Hope Springs is the type of movie that Hollywood should make more often.  It is a movie about people and their very real emotions, contains no high concept, and provides a nice role for our finest American actress.  It is a movie that seriously considers issues pertaining to people’s well-being and happiness, presents those issues in an honest manner and does not gloss over its characters’ inability to communicate or to change their ways for the betterment of their union.

Having said that, I still wish David Frankel’s movie had been better.  I didn’t feel it was very even-handed; not only is the story told from the perspective of the lonely wife Kay (Meryl Streep), but the husband Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) rarely becomes more than a one-dimensional antagonist.  Jones and Streep have very little romantic chemistry, which aids the story’s premise of them having grown apart, but which makes their return to each other at the climax rather suspect.  Frankly, I felt that she would have been better off without him.

In a straight role as the relationship doctor is Steve Carell.  Fans of his usual schtick are going to be disappointed, as he cracks no jokes or funny faces.  It is a credible, quite serious performance that will probably prompt a lot of viewers to think about their own relationship status.  And that is probably the movie’s greatest strength: it will (or should) definitely cause some soul-searching among its audience.  It reflects reality in some uncomfortable ways, yet, like Steve Carell’s character, tries to keep an optimistic tone while dealing with them.

Many men will consider this a chick flick, and they would be right.  It is written by a woman (Vanessa Taylor), takes a woman’s perspective and centers on emotional issues that make men uncomfortable.  That isn’t why it disappoints me.  Frankel’s film lacks balance, good supporting characters (Elisabeth Shue and Mimi Rogers are completely wasted) and, unfortunately, cannot resist the requisite happy ending.  If the film would have been truly brave, then Kay would have followed through on her desire to leave this lout.  ☆ ☆ 1/2.  3 September 2012.