Movie Review: Hello, My Name is Doris
Movie Synopsis:
Hello, My Name Is Doris is
a 2016 US romantic comedy-drama film directed by Michael Showalter from a
screenplay by Showalter and Laura Terruso, about a woman in her 60s who tries
to act on her attraction to a younger co-worker. It stars Sally Field in the
title role, alongside Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Stephen
Root, Elizabeth Reaser, Natasha Lyonne and Tyne Daly. The film had its world
premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 14, 2015, and was theatrically
released on March 11, 2016, by Roadside Attractions and Stage 6 Films.
The Review
I had doubted taking a
membership for Amazon Prime but as more and more days go by, I begin to doubt
myself less and less. True the collection isn’t at par with Netflix but the movies
that I have come across simply browsing through the collection are pure magic.
Hello, My Name is Doris is one such movie that I came across quite by accident.
It tells the story of a woman in her late sixties or early seventies, Doris
Miller (Sally Field) who had given up her life to look after her ailing mother.
Even though she says she knew it would have killed had she chosen to abandon her
mother, Doris does regret not living her life to the fullest. In the wake of
her mother’s demise, Doris starts crushing obsessively on the new art director,
John Fremont (Max Greenfield) who is younger to her by many years.
While her best friend’s
thirteen year old granddaughter helps her navigate the dating world of the hip
youngsters, her best friend is anything but pleased by Doris’ acting out. Because
Doris never moved out of the house that she grew up in. She still took a ferry
into New York just commute to and fro work. Even with her brother and
sister-in-law encouraging her to clean out the house and start afresh, even
with the helpful psychologist trying to help her sort through her confounding
emotions.
Doris seems to channel all
her emotions on John as a way of escape from life. She often daydreams that he
reciprocates her feelings.
It is a beautifully made
film and not once did I want to cringe and cover my face feeling embarrassment for
the characters. In fact, I was highly entertained and understood where Doris’
feelings and emotions stem from. You would start to find yourself rooting for
this rather odd couple. I am so used to seeing Max Greenfield as Schimdt that it was a nice surprise for me to see him play the young,handsome and oblivious John Fremont! Sally Field nailed is as the adorable Doris Miller who doesn't understand why her little crush will not work out in the long run. Especially if she never does anything about it. (This is inspired by a motivational speaker's talk she and her best friend Raz attend.)
The ending in itself is
beautifully done and I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone else. Therefore, do
yourself a favour and the next time you have a couple of hours on your hand
with no idea what to do - sit–down and watch this movie! It is a lovely treat.
