Enough Said

Here is a movie we seldom see - a truly funny and smart romantic comedy for adults.  Enough Said is not only a joy to watch, it is also a reminder of what we lost in James Gandolfini when he unexpectedly passed away back in June.  Giving one of his final on screen performances here, he has never been so warm and likable.  Watching his performance, and the chemistry that he shares with Julia Louise Dreyfus up on the screen, is not only a fitting tribute to the actor, but a poignant reminder of a great talent that we have lost.

Dreyfus and Gandolfini play Eva and Albert, respectively.  Both are middle-aged, divorced, and soon to be empty-nesters with daughters on their way to college.  They meet at a party being held by a mutual friend.  Nothing much happens during their first encounter, but then he gets in touch with her, wanting to spend some time alone with her.  She agrees, and before long, they are building a strong friendship which eventually turns romantic.  Albert doesn't seem like date material at first, as he's a bit of a self-described slob.  He's the kind of guy who shows up for Sunday brunch wearing a T-shirt and pajama bottoms.  But, he has a good heart, and genuinely cares about Eva.  They realize how right they are for each other the more time they spend together.

There is a complication, of course.  Eva works as a masseuse, and one of her new clients is a woman named Marianne (Catherine Keener).  The two become friends.  Marianne is an intelligent woman who writes poems for a living, but one of her favorite topics of discussion is badmouthing her ex-husband, whom she frequently insults and flat-out refers to him as a "loser".  Eventually, Eva figures out that the man that Marianne is always talking about is none other than Albert.  In your typical romantic comedy, this would probably lead to some crazy misunderstanding, but writer-director Nicole Holofcener uses this set up as an opportunity to explore some tough issues about relationships, such as how the opinions of others can influence how we see people.  She even explores how a single parent may react to their only daughter leaving home for the first time, by having Eva turning her attention to one of her daughter's more lonelier and needier friends.

Despite tackling these issues, Enough Said is a warmhearted and funny comedy, and it never lets the more serious undertones drag it down.  The performances play a big part in giving the film its light and charming feel.  Dreyfus and Gandolfini not only are great together, but they both manage to create these likable and instantly relatable characters that we truly want to see end up together by the end of the movie.  Dreyfus may more be known for her TV work, but she shows a real star quality here that I don't think has been explored by a filmmaker in the past.  She's not the typical attractive, yet bubbleheaded female lead we usually get in romantic comedies.  She's a smart and witty woman who finds herself in over her head, and doesn't know how to get out of her situation without hurting someone she cares about - either the man she's falling for, or her new friend.

Naturally, it is Gandolfini's performance that really draws our attention, and earns a certain sort of poignancy, due to real life events.  Even if this movie had come out before he passed away, it would still be a performance worth celebrating, because it shows a much softer and gentler side we seldom saw him give.  He has a gentleness here that feels genuine, and never forced.  We can see why a woman would be drawn to him, despite his obvious flaws.  As the situation became more complicated, I actually found myself not wanting to see the guy up there on the screen get hurt.  This is such a wonderful and warm performance, and a great reminder of how we lost his talent far too soon.

Enough Said is a simply beguiling movie - Charming, captivating, and truly funny all the way through.  It makes you wish that more romantic comedies could attempt to reach its heights.  Regardless, it deserves to be seen - Both as a genuinely well made movie, and as a tribute to Gandolfini.  This is easily one of the sweetest movies I've seen this year.

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