‘For Worse’ Review: Amy Landecker Struggles to Make Sparks Fly in Her Directorial Debut

by

In one particularly endearing moment from the comic strip “For Worse“, characters Lauren (Amy Landecker) and Dave (Bradley Whitford) share a cigarette, despite not knowing each other well due to peculiar and vexing circumstances. Yet, in that instant, their bond seems palpable, radiating warmth and sparkling with potential. It’s as if they were meant to be together; the kind of rapport that forms the backbone of romantic comedies.

Regrettably, the interesting element in this 90-minute film surfaces quite late, causing you to ponder why more of it wasn’t introduced earlier. While there are engaging moments in For Worse, much of it is rather unexciting and not worth getting upset over. However, it’s challenging not to feel let down that this turned out to be an average film when it had the potential to be great.

Though Landecker has shown her talent for stealing scenes in diverse productions such as the Coens’ “A Serious Man” and Amazon’s “Transparent”, the character she’s created for herself in her first directorial venture isn’t one of her most profound. Her Lauren is compassionate enough, but not particularly complex. We see her finalizing her divorce from Chase (Paul Adelstein), both parties conveying more weariness than animosity. However, even a separation that was long anticipated can be devastating for those who must rebuild their lives following its aftermath.

In a moment of spontaneity, Lauren enrolls in an acting course for commercials, supervised by the demanding and stern Liz (Gaby Hoffmann, known from Transparent). This small act evolves into something more substantial as the class introduces her to a group of younger companions, among them the attractive Sean (Nico Hiraga), who is in his twenties. Despite Landecker and Hiraga failing to generate any noticeable chemistry, their characters feel an immediate attraction upon meeting, which develops into a hesitant flirtation that continues until the Palm Springs wedding of another classmate, Kiersey Clemons’ Maria.

In a series of recent older woman/younger man relationships, few have been as open about the less glamorous aspects of postmenopausal bodies as Lauren and Sean. Their first intimate encounter is interrupted by an unexpected bodily issue that Lauren explains to Sean as something that can happen after childbirth; despite her embarrassment, causing her to leave, he seems unfazed. Later on, they tackle another sensitive topic – vaginal dryness, although Lauren makes it clear she hasn’t experienced this personally. If this movie manages to reduce the stigma around middle-aged female sexuality even a little bit, that’s something worth celebrating.

I’ll also admit that it’s an amusing decision for the storyline in “For Worse” to portray Lauren and her peers as aspirants in commercial acting, as Liz describes (instead of more conventional paths like theater or movies). Unfortunately, this plotline is largely underdeveloped in the film, with major events happening offscreen rather than exploring this unique aspect of the entertainment industry like the movie “In a World…” does.

As a gamer diving into this virtual world, I’ve got to admit that while there are occasional glimpses of intrigue, the game itself feels surprisingly flat and shallow. It seems like the creators didn’t put much effort into fleshing out the environment or delving deep into the protagonist’s emotions. I get that Lauren is consumed by grief, making her focus on herself, but the game mirrors this narrow-mindedness. It’s a pity because I was hoping for a more immersive experience.

In this story, none of the characters seem to have depth beyond their role in Lauren’s journey. Julie, Lauren’s longtime friend, is essentially a repository for clichéd sassy-gal-pal lines such as “Down with the patriarchy!” Later, there appears a new character named Spencer Stevenson who is compared to Rupert Everett in My Best Friend’s Wedding—essentially, he’s a gay character serving Lauren’s narrative. Even Sean, another character, lacks any emotional depth; his feelings and motivations remain unexplored throughout the story.

The script acknowledges that Lauren has a tendency to be passive-aggressive and petty, and one of her most enjoyable scenes involves Sean helping her exact revenge on her ex and his girlfriend (Angelique Cabral). However, the script is too soft to delve into the depths of her character, either by allowing us to share in her misery or by pushing her towards unlikability so that we might still find ourselves rooting for her. Despite Lauren’s admission that she feels powerless, her descent into self-destruction is so tame it hardly seems like a struggle worth investing in.

As a fan, I can’t help but admit that there are areas where this comic strip, “For Worse,” could use some improvement. Regrettably, it seems to fall short in the humor department as well. The jokes often feel too overused and unoriginal, failing to leave a lasting impact.

It’s plausible that a character like the 50something mom might be unfamiliar with terms like “serving c–t” or struggle with using they/them pronouns, but it’s not particularly amusing when these become the sole basis for jokes.

Characters such as Rick, portrayed by Ken Marino, and Sara, played by Cabral, rely heavily on outdated stereotypes about magicians and health influencers respectively. I was hoping for some fresh twists or subversions of these tropes, but they never materialized. Instead, I found myself waiting in vain for something more innovative.

The most authentic fireworks appear in the final scene featuring Lauren and Dave; it’s noteworthy that their portrayers, Landecker and Whitford, are married off-screen. Landecker has shared that her script was motivated by her personal divorce experiences, making it effortless to root for both her and her on-screen character during that emotional moment. It seems heartening to witness them finding happiness again after enduring such hardship; unfortunately, the journey leading up to this joyous instance felt less captivating.

Read More

2025-03-12 18:54