The Meddler (2016)

Well Deserved Praise

Sadly Over-hyped

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Marnie, widowed nearly two years ago is trying to find a new purpose in life, but it's not easy. Having moved from New Jersey to LA to be near her screenwriter daughter (who finds her mother's constant presence in her life overpowering), Marnie's new life includes planning and funding an expensive wedding for a casual acquaintance, accidental work as a movie extra, encouraging a young iPad salesman to widen his educational horizon and ferrying him to night classes (with consequences), and meeting a man who keeps chickens.Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, whose scant previous credits include writing/directing Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World and writing Nick And Nora's Infinite Playlist, this movie (which arrived at my local cinema without so much as a trailer preceding it) features Susan Sarandon as Marnie, Rose Byrne as daughter Lori, JK Simmons as Zipper (the chicken-owning cop, the script is undecided as to whether he is retired or not), and several other names in supporting roles.It is possible to get irritated with Marnie's mild inability to mind her own business, just as Lori's tendency towards moody angst could get on your nerves, but it is easy to see where these traits come from, and the death of husband/Dad Jack before the film starts is clearly of major importance to both women - indeed, it seeds the final sequence of the film. Likewise, Marnie's tendency to back off - literally - from the possibility of a close relationship with a man comes from the same place. The impulsive decision to bankroll the lesbian wedding of a friend of her daughter, a woman she hardly knows, is puzzling and required more explanation: inherited wealth is the obvious answer, as evidenced by the late husband's expensive car, but it would have helped to have had some explanation.The biggest flaw here is that there seems to be a lack of purpose to the film. It meanders. The drama is gentle, but doesn't always go anywhere much. Things happen and then the expected consequences never materialise. It's all very soap opera-ish, but without any real pay-off to a number of the plot strands which are established.Having said that, there are happy endings - kind of - to the mother/daughter side of things, and one assumes that Marnie and Lori continue their lives in a slightly more contented vein than previously.

The Meddler of the title is Marnie (Susan Sarandon) who has been lonely since her husband has died and ends up overbearing her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne.)However Marnie is well meaning and other people who cross paths with her seem to appreciate her help more than her daughter, Marnie also attracts several admirers including Zipper (JK Simmons) and despite her daughter's rebuffing her intentions, she finds a new purpose in her life.The film has wonderful performances from Sarandon and Simmons, but it is a pretty empty film. Not really a comedy, nor quirky or dramatic enough.

Who wouldn't wish to have Susan Sarandon as a mother? Or at least a friend! I mean even when she has flaws she's amazing. And of course her character has flaws, but who doesn't. Her relationship with Rose Byrne is exceptional. The overall tone is set nicely. And if anything I'd wish this was longer, had more JK Simmons in it.I understand if some feel that not much is happening. It's a valid criticism of the movie. But if you do like the path rather than the overall goal this is heading for, you will cherish that path it takes. It's really well played (no pun intended) and it has a real arc. For more than Sarandon, but especially for her character. There are so many real moments to cherish ... but it has to be something you like, otherwise it doesn't make sense to watch it

Lorene Scafaria both wrote and directed this little film that surveys a significant issue – how do we deal with the death of a spouse? – and unfortunately turns it into a rather tepid and at times annoying diatribe of dealing with loss by meddling in others affairs while attempting to come to grips with personal issues of loss. Were it not for the presence of Susan Sarandon the film would likely have lost the following it has. Nice idea for a story but far too overstated.The synopsis most pertinent to the story is as follows: 'With a new iPhone, an apartment near the Grove, and a comfortable bank account left to her by her beloved late husband, Marnie Minervini (Susan Sarandon) has happily relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be near her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne), a successful but still single screenwriter, and smother her with motherly love. But when the dozens of texts, unexpected visits, and conversations dominated by unsolicited advice force Lori to draw strict personal boundaries, Marnie finds ways to channel her eternal optimism and forceful generosity to change the lives of others - as well as her own - and find a new purpose in life – in the form of Zipper (J.K. Simmons).'Marnie meddles in so many other people's lives – all with good intentions and purchasing friendships with money and gifts and favors – that it dazzles the viewer. So many topical issues are covered – same sex marriage, current pop singers, peeks into Black Matters issues, social media hookups, fear by widows of starting partnerships with older men, Vaping, etc – that Marnie encounters and tries to manage by using her estate. It does get overbearing. But then the ending is so well sculpted that the tiresome first 90 minutes can be forgiven.