Hello, My Name Is Doris is a sweet, odd dramedy about an older woman (Sally Field) who falls for her younger co-worker (Max Greenfield from New Girl) while dealing with the aftermath of her mother’s death. Side note: Max Greenfield would be a great distraction for any situation, amirite?
Anyway. Focus. Back to the review.
The movie marketing folks behind Hello, My Name Is Doris are billing it as a “coming-of-age” story even though Sally Field’s character, Doris Miller, is a sixty-something woman. This feels accurate, though, as you follow Doris on her sometimes-bumpy journey stepping out of her mother’s shadow. Along the way, there are funny detours–Doris, with her penchant for colorful outfits, ends up being adopted by hipsters at one point and director Michael Showalter’s portrayal of Brooklyn residents pokes gentle fun at their artisanal, eccentricity-embracing qualities (as a resident Brooklynite I can say that his rendition is eerily realistic).
The film walks the line between drama and comedy well for the most part, though much of the dramatic tension lies in the audience anticipating what will happen when Doris makes her move (the movie leaves little room for doubt that Doris, urged on by a self-help guru, won’t see this romance through). There were times when it felt like waiting for an inevitable train crash to happen because you grow to like and empathize with Doris–she’s lived such a paltry existence being a dutiful daughter, caring for her mother, working at her office drone job in the most human way possible–and you want and hope that her affections will be returned.
The supporting cast is excellent, with Tyne Daly playing one of her best friends (her granddaughter, played by Isabella Ayres, is a helpful guide for Doris as she navigates the modern world of social media) and even Jack Antonoff (of Fun, Bleachers, and Lena Dunham boyfriend fame) makes an appearance.
If you’re looking for something a little fresh, offbeat, and original that isn’t a Hollywood remake, I would highly recommend Hello, My Name Is Doris.
★ ★ ★ ☆
Header Photo Credit: Red Crown Productions/Haven Entertainment
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox Television
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