‘For Worse’ leaves you with the wedding bell blues
There isn’t much “better” in “For Worse.” It’s basically lousy all the way from its exasperating start to its underwhelming ending in which a divorced, 50-year-old recovering alcoholic winds up where you always knew she would … flat on her back with an upended wedding cake crashing into her face. Splat!
It’s very much a just dessert for a heroine whose appeal oscillates between needy and annoying, as she attempts to re-enter the dating pool while also reviving her pursuit of becoming the next Stephanie Courtney, aka Flo, in the vast wasteland of TV advertising. In other words, your classic underachiever. The same could be said for former “Transparent” star Amy Landecker, the multi-hyphenate responsible for writing, directing, producing and starring in this discombobulated mess.
While you admire the 56-year-old’s ambition to forge her own path outside the studio system and its ageist business model, you also rue that she didn’t have the patience to attempt a few dozen more rewrites on an unfocused script based entirely on placing her Lauren in a succession of humiliating and embarrassing predicaments. The bones are there for a substantive examination of how hard it is for women to start their lives over at the half-century mark. But Landecker fritters it away on sitcom-level drivel that relies almost entirely on slapstick and rote one-liners.
No doubt, there’s a modicum of truth to Lauren and her eagerness to pick up the pieces and reach her goals of becoming a productive, self-sustaining member of society. Same for her need to be a more present mother to Lucy (Chloe Cleary), the prepubescent daughter she and her ex, Chase (Paul Adelstein), share custody with. But little of it reflects genuineness, particularly Lauren’s all-consuming jealousy over Chase having found love again with Sara (Angelique Cabral), a vivacious fitness influencer she deems about as close to perfect as they come.
Instead of fleshing out these deep-seated feelings of inadequacy, Landecker repeatedly resorts to broad comedic tropes, accentuated by crying fits and borderline hysteria. It also doesn’t make sense that Lauren can be so insecure, yet fully aware of her radiant beauty and killer sense of humor. But then that doesn’t fit with the film’s stupid premise of Lauren’s desire to fit in with the Gen Z bunch she befriends in her TV commercial acting class taught by the strident, taciturn Liz (a grating Gabby Hoffman).
Chief among the “kiddos” is her acting partner, Sean, who we’re asked to believe is an Adonis. No offense to Nico Hiraka, but while his Sean is definitely what the ladies would consider cute, he’s hardly the second coming of George Clooney we’re led to believe. And that misrepresentation disrupts our ability to suspend disbelief when the entire acting class is spontaneously and improbably invited to a peer’s wedding at the palatial home of her recently divorced parents, played by Enuka Okuma and Landecker’s real-life hubby, Bradley Whitford.
Sean is Lauren’s date for the weekend affair. But as soon as he walks in the door, a host of amorous Victoria’s Secret-level models, led by “Hot Coco” (Claudia Sulewski), swoon all over the guy. Suddenly feeling old and undesirable, Lauren retreats to the loo to pout and seek commiseration from her BFF, Julie (Missi Pyle). Natch, Whitford’s silver-maned Dave walks in on this pity party because, apparently, this is the only toilet in his massive home and he really, really needs to pee. The ensuing conversation is terse. Do you suppose this awkward beginning will blossom into love?
The movie’s final 60 minutes or so are devoted to the pre-nuptial dinner and wedding. Both prove problematic for the guests and the narrative, culminating in Lauren ending up with cake on her face. What leads to that messy climax is repetitive, boring and utterly lacking in freshness. It’s the worst of “For Worse.” Unless you count Rick (Ken Marino), a magician who hits on and then hits Lauren during the reception. What? Yup, it’s as offensive as it sounds.
At least it ends well, with Lauren finally and literally falling into the arms of her Prince Charming. One guess who that might be. Yes, it’s predictable. And you wonder why it took so long to get to where we always knew where “For Worse” was headed. The disarming coda succeeds in leaving you less resentful for having wasted 90 minutes of your precious life on something so inane. But not enough to lessen the urge to abandon this dud at the altar.
Movie review
For Worse
Rated: Not rated
Cast: Amy Landecker, Bradley Whitford, Missi Pyle, Nico Hiraka, Gabby Hoffman and Simon Helberg
Director: Amy Landecker
Writer: Amy Landecker
Runtime: 90 minutes
Where: In theaters March 6
Grade: C-
