Then She Found Me – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

Elementary school teacher April Epner (Helen Hunt) is suddenly faced with a culmination of several stressful situations. After arguing for years about not being able to conceive, April’s husband Ben (Matthew Broderick) leaves her. The following day, April’s adopted mother, the only mother she’s ever known, passes away. While attempting to deal with all of this grief, she receives a letter from a strange woman asking her to meet her for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Curious, April accepts the invitation only to be greeted warmly by eccentric day time talk show host Bernice Graves (Bette Midler) who claims to be her birth mother. Her father, she says, is actor Steve McQueen. Unable to process all of this information at a very unfortunate period in her life, April understandably leaves the restaurant.

On top of everything going on, April also meets a charming man (Colin Firth) named Frank at her school, a father of a child in her class. His wife has recently left him leaving him with their two young children, and he’s feeling lonely, anxious, and at his stress-level’s peak. The two form a very sweet and caring bond in a surprisingly short amount of time, given their rightful sensitivity to new relationships.

Given all of these strange circumstances happening all at once to poor April, you might think that this movie is depressing or sad in tone. It manages to be the complete opposite. Don’t get me wrong, April does do plenty moping and feeling sorry for herself, but the movie doesn’t ever fall into that cycle with her. Instead, we’re shown the hope and love in the story. At least that’s what I got out of it.

When Then She Found Me was given its limited theatrical release earlier this year, I read more bad reviews than good. At present, Rotten Tomatoes gives this film a 52% with a “rotten” rating. From what I’ve read, it seems like the film strays from the beloved source material, the book of the same name by author Elinor Lipman. Sometimes people just get upset when a book they love isn’t adapted as true to the story as they would like. I’ve been in that boat before, so I can empathize. However, I haven’t read this particular book and I thoroughly enjoyed this film. If it’s any consolation to fans of the book, apparently Helen Hunt went through several re-writes of the screenplay. She tried every possible version of the story, including a very faithful adaptation. Hollywood just wouldn’t buy it.

The biggest reason I loved this film so much is the reason I figured I would love this film so much: the cast. I’ve been a Helen Hunt fan since Mad About You. This film serves as her directorial debut and she does a masterful job. Her acting is superb as well, crafting a multi-faceted character that I was able to immediately connect with. It was a real treat seeing Matthew Broderick play a worthless sleazeball character, something a little out of his element. Even though he wasn’t in the film that much, he was fun. Colin Firth was the male lead and he was just oozing charm throughout the entire film. He is the perfect love interest as he has the ability to ooze charm in just about every role I’ve ever seen him play. I love him. It has been way too long since Bette Midler has graced the screen, but she still has every bit of sass and confidence as ever. Hopefully this will be the start of a comeback for her. I know I’ve missed seeing her. She’s fantastic in this.

Then She Found Me is a film that works on so many levels: the characters, the story, the direction, all superb. The film deals with several difficult human emotions and difficult human situations ranging from divorce to new love to adoption and it never feels like too much. This film has touched me and has continued to stay with me even weeks after watching it. I’m sure some of that has to do with the emotional ending that really hits home to me as a mother, but I’m sure that many others will be moved as well. Helen Hunt has crafted an impressive directorial debut and I look forward to her future projects.

This DVD is presented in a anamorphic widescreen, 1.78:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Digital Surround sound.

Making of Then She Found Me – This is your standard making of featurette, but maintains a majority of the focus on Helen Hunt, being as she produced, directed, starred, and co-wrote the screenplay. The editing here is really odd though. As if several people filmed it over a really long period of time. (11:42)

Interviews – Taped interviews at a press junket for the film. Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth, and Matthew Broderick are all interviewed in separate segments. Each interview is approximately 3 to 4 minutes long.

Theatrical Trailer

Feature Commentary with Helen Hunt – This is one of the better commentaries I’ve heard. Hunt is never boring or droll, but is consistently excited about the film she’s made. She points out several obstacles that she encountered while making the film, all of which make me appreciate it more.

I’d like to think that every project that a director undertakes becomes a labor of love, but it’s movies like Then She Found Me that truly embody that phrase. Helen Hunt has done everything in her power to get the book that she so loved made into a film, and the end result is one of the most underappreciated films of the year. This one is worth a rental.

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Thinkfilm presents Then She Found Me. Directed by Helen Hunt. Starring Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick. Written by Alice Arlen, Victor Levin, Helen Hunt. Running time: 100 minutes. Rated R. Released on DVD: September 2, 2008. Available at Amazon.com.

Jenny is proud to be the First Lady of Inside Pulse Movies. She gives female and mommy perspective, and has two kids who help with rating family movies. (If they don't like 'em, what's the point?) She prefers horror movies to chick flicks, and she can easily hang with the guys as long as there are several frou-frou girlie drinks to be had.