HOME AGAIN
US, 2017, 97 minutes, Colour.
Reese Witherspoon, Michael Sheen, Nat Wolff, Candice Bergen, Pico Alexander, Jon Rudnitsky, Lake Bell, Eden Grace Redfield, Lola Flanery.
Directed by Hallie Meyers- Shyer.
This is a variation on the popular American romantic comedy. Actually, rather later in the film, the clue is given about the central character, Alice, Reese Witherspoon, and the three young men who live in her guesthouse and are wanting to make a film. As they go to see a producer, they actually say that one of them has a brain, and the second a heart, and the third, the nerve. Fans of The Wizard of Oz will know the reference instantly.
But, Alice, is not on an easy yellow brick road. As the film opens, she is looking resignedly in her bathroom mirror. It is her 40th birthday. It turns out that she has separated from her music industry husband, Michael Sheen, has two daughters, one of whom tends to be depressed, the other not. The audience is given a resume of her very successful film director father, his films, his many marriages, the house that he built in LA to which Alice and the children are now returning.
The three young men, Harry (Pico Alexander), the producer who thinks he is God’s gift to everyone (the nerve); Teddy (Nat Wolff), the earnest actor (the heart); and screenwriter George (Jon Rudnitsky) who is the brain but really has the most heart.
They cannot pay for their hotel room but a chance encounter with Alice at her 40th birthday party, drinks and dancing, leads to them going home with her, her mother (Candice Bergen) turning up the next morning, being charmed by their flattery because she was the star of her husband’s films, she invites him to stay.
There is a caustic interlude when Alice goes for an interview for a job in room decoration but finds her prospective employer, Lake Bell, presumptuously arrogant – they later have a rather public falling out at a restaurant.
Harry wants to charm Alice but stands her up. She is rescued by George. Teddy’s action will be when Alice’s husband, Austin, decides to come to Los Angeles to see what is happening and they have a punch-up.
The three men, all in their mid-20s, are a hit with the two daughters, especially George since the older girl is preparing a little play for presentation at the school – an event which provides something of a climax for the film.
In the meantime, the three go to discuss their prospective film with a typical Hollywood producer who wants to amplify the modest script, sex it up et cetera – and, as you would expect them to, they walk out on him. George meanwhile has been commissioned to write a TV script and Teddy has an audition.
A happy outcome with the school play and what better than to see Alice and the girls, her mother, her former husband and the three men all sitting around the table and enjoying one another’s company.
1. Romantic comedy in a divorce society? Tension to happiness?
2. LA, the movie world and culture? The home, exteriors and interiors? Mansions? Restaurants? The school? Offices? The city of LA and the score?
3. The title, Alice and her life, her family, New York, coming home to LA and establishing a new home with her daughters?
4. Alice, 40, her birthday, in the bathroom, talking with her girls, taking them to school, Isabel depressed, Rosie buoyant? The separation from Austin? The phone call for her birthday?
5. The outing, the girls and their talk, wanting to fix her up with a date? Encountering Harry at the bar, drinking, talking, dancing, all going home? Harry and his being sick, in her room, her doing the laundry, at 5.30? George and his finding her father’s den and the treasure trove about his movie career? Teddy being nice? The meeting the girls, the momentary upset, liking the girls and their liking them? Alice’s mother, arrival, her film star status, inviting them to stay?
6. The three young men, their short film, their plans, the hotel, not having enough money, being ousted? The interview with the board, the plans, the agent, the director with the horror film reputation? Their hopes?
7. Their staying in the house, their all liking Alice, Harry inviting her out, the relationship, standing her up, her drinking?
8. Going to the prospective employer, her haughtiness, on the phone? Getting her to babysit children? The encounter in the restaurant, Alice drinking, telling her off, and her husband observing it?
9. George, the writer, pleasant, phone call, writing the script? Teddy, the news of the audition? Harry and his being upset at their doing this behind his back?
10. Austin, the music world, his marriage, his job, the separation? Learning about the three, his sudden arrival? The meals, talking, his staying in the guest house?
11. Austin, wanting to stay, talking with Alice? Alice wanting the divorce, satisfied with the separation? The three men misinterpreting what they saw? Teddy and the fight with Austin?
12. Isabel, the play, her nervousness, George promising to be present? The empty seats?
13. The three and the visit to the producer, his different vision of the film, commercial, sexy…?
14. George, trying to get backstage, Isabel nervous, George’s presence, encouraging, her success?
15. Everybody sitting at the table, happiness and peace?
16. The references to brain, heart, nerve, and the three with Alice and the echoes of The Wizard of Oz?
