Susan Sarandon rides with J.K. Simmons.
Lori (Rose Byrne) is uncomfortable with mom’s help.
THE MEDDLER
By Marlene Ardoin
Susan Sarandon, as Marnie, is more of a fairy god-mother, than a meddler. A good meddler’s motivation comes from a place of love, and a bad meddler comes from a place of criticism or envy. Marnie is a good meddler.
We get a step by step how-to-get-over the death of a doting husband. Marnie’s husband has made sure that she has more than enough to survive on her own, but Marnie is a natural giver. And, now we know the secret of a great marriage, two-way, great giving.
Marnie relocates from the east coast New York area to the west coast Los Angeles area.
What is so delightful about this film is watching Marnie gradually open to a new way of life, new friends, and learning how to fill the void of her recent solo life. Anyone who crosses her path is sure to feel the force of her great big heart.
At first, her daughter, Lori (Rose Byrne), is uncomfortable with her presence, but when mom gradually builds a new life for herself, the tables turn as Lori begins to miss her mother’s unconditional support and love.
Marnie’s god-mother recipients include an elderly woman in the hospital who is unable to speak, a young black boy in a computer store who shows her how to use the new phone, a lesbian couple who have a young daughter, and a divorced cop (J.K. Simmons) who gets his chickens to lay eggs by playing them music.
We also get treated to watching her open herself to the possibility of male attention. She clearly knows the difference between love and lust. The demonstrations of both are humorously presented.
This is a warm-hearted story.
As a group of elderly, middle-class females were leaving the showing, I overheard them wondering if the lesbian couple had any lesbian friends? I hope that is not the only takeaway that they got from this movie.
7/11/16 # The Meddler