​FILMS

miss you already

2015 review number 160:

Miss You Already: (Drama/Comedy/Romance): 67 out of 100: If this was meant to be an emotional tearjerker, it certainly has done its job with a number of people weeping during my screening. Although it is sad, there are features of this movie that make it emotional through manipulation. This includes the montages that are sprinkled throughout the film and the numerous close-ups that linger and invade the characters' personal space. The four main actors however, do their job well in delivering the language and expressions that cancer  sufferers and their loved ones experience.

 

Milly (Toni Collette) and Jess (Drew Barrymore) have been best friends since they met at a London school when they were young children. Jess was ostracised by other classmates for being an American but it was Milly who made her feel welcome. We then see them over the years in a series of montages until the story settles in the present day where Milly is married to Kit (Dominic Cooper) and together they have two children. Meanwhile, Jess lives with her boyfriend, Jago (Paddy Considine), on a houseboat. Milly's friendship with Jess is tested when Milly finds out she has breast cancer while Jess decides to not reveal to her that she is pregnant. The relationships unravel during a trying time for all concerned.

 

While this film is never boring, the direction by Catherine Hardwicke doesn't really help. The story is emotional as it is so it doesn't need the camera to be spending a fair bit of time positioned closely on the actors' faces. What makes it worst is the shaky camera approach being used for a lot of these scenes.

 

There are moments of humour which ensure that Miss You Already isn't a sobfest from beginning to end. Quite a few lines of dialogue are witty and even the topics of cancer and infertility are handled sensitively with several funny scenes. The most pleasing aspect is that the dialogue doesn't get bogged down with mush.

 

Collette and Barrymore play well off each other. It's easy for the viewer to see that their characters have been best friends for many years. Cooper and Considine are solid in support as their respective partners. Special mention must be made of Jacqueline Bisset's portrayal of Milly's mum as she dazzles with her quick-witted responses and wonderful interactions with the two main female characters.

 

If you are a fan of location shooting, you will be in raptures with the scenes shot in London which provide scenic views and the English countryside, especially Bradford in West Yorkshire, renowned for the residence of the Bronte sisters who wrote some classic novels in the 19th century.

 

Miss You Already will appease those who enjoy this type of movie and even though the story is seemingly gynocentric, there are enough male issues scattered throughout the film to ensure that it isn't a total chick flick.

 

Starring Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette, Dominic Cooper and Paddy Considine

(112 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, sex scenes, sexual references and adult themes

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtdVWsA3ctI (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Monday 19th October, 2015)

 

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