“You can’t live your life through someone else’s disappointment.”
synopsis
A divorced massage therapist begins dating a kind, funny man — only to discover he is the ex-husband of her new client and friend. Instead of judging him on her own experience, she absorbs his ex-wife’s grievances… and quietly sabotages the relationship.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
This is grown-up romantic realism — awkward, funny, painfully recognizable. The mayhem here isn’t screaming; it’s insecurity.
Gandolfini plays against type as a gentle, self-conscious divorcé, and Louis-Dreyfus delivers one of the most human performances of her career. The film’s tension comes from something painfully relatable: listening to criticism about someone you love and letting it infect your perception.
It’s small-scale, but emotionally precise. And refreshingly adult.
A quiet evening, no distractions
Watching with someone you’ve been married to a long time
That mild anxiety you get when you realize you’ve overshared
Absurdist's Corner
The most destructive force in the film isn’t betrayal. It’s gossip.
fun facts
This was James Gandolfini’s final completed film before his death.
The director frequently explores messy, middle-aged emotional dynamics.
Much of the humor is improvised or conversationally loose.