Hello, My Name Is Doris

With all the commercial films we are bombarded with, it's so nice to take a break and see something small and quirky that's not only entertaining, but speaks to the heart as well. What is offered is the funny, but also dramatic "Hello, My Name Is Doris". This, like "Lars and the Real Girl", "Little Boy", "Little Miss Sunshine" and the like, transcend us into others' lives where we can either root for, or are concerned for them depending what situation is being played out. It's a great underdog film with all the pitfalls, but also with us as cheerleaders.

After attending a self-help seminar headed up by Willy Williams (Peter Gallagher), a sixty something Doris Miller (Sally Field) starts to look at her life differently. So when Doris meets John Fremont (Max Greenfield), her company's new hip young art director, sparks fly-- at least for Doris. In the cluttered house she shared with her late mother, Doris mines Facebook for information on her one-and-only, guided by the 13-year-old granddaughter, Vivian (Isabella Acres) of her best pal Roz (Tyne Daly). When Doris begins showing up at John's regular haunts, she wins over his Williamsburg friends. Her new life brings Doris a thrilling perspective, but also creates a rift between her and her longtime friends and family, expressly her brother, Todd (Stephen Root) and sister-in-law, Cynthia (Wendy McLendon- Covey) who believe she's making a fool of herself over a guy half her age. Eager for all the experiences she has missed out on, Doris throws caution to the wind and follows her heart for the very first time.

Others to round out the cast are Beth Behrs as Brooklyn, Elizabeth Reaser as Dr. Edwards, Natasha Lyonne as Sally, Kumail Nanjiani as Nasir, Kyle Mooney as Niles, Caroline Aaron as Val, Rebecca Wisocky as Anne and Amy Okuda as Des.

This is directed with amazing subtlety by Michael Showalter ("The Baxter" '05) plus TV. I say subtle, because the nuances of emotions in which Field's character of Doris were incredible whereas she would go from being depressed to excitement to worry and concern and back again. Of course, Sally Field is a consummate actor, Showalter simply scored here, especially considering his lack of directing. It was written well by Laura Terruso and Showalter based on a short film, "Doris and the Intern" by Terruso. Showalter is the one with the majority of writing experiences here, however Terruso's imput was imparitive considering this is based on her short film. This is basically her only theatrical film to her credit--her other experience is that of shorts, but she has proven herself with this screenplay. It flowed well and was well thought out scene by scene. The character development was spot on showing us all that change in one's life in not only important but is crucial as well. This was a true tour-de-force for Field as Doris. She could garner a Oscar nod come that time.

Certainly this is not meant for a mass audience appeal, however it is a film that, if people could have an open mind, could be a film that all could enjoy. It has it all: humor, drama, sadness and victory, and doesn't life have all these characteristics in it anyway?

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: R                                       95mins.