When iTunes featured Hello, My Name Is Doris as their movie of the week, I immediately removed it from my wish list and rented it. Now that the Gilmore Girls revival is behind us, I had a chance to sit down and enjoy watching the movie this weekend.
Leading lady Sally Field is believable as a kooky data entry clerk in an advertising agency. I’m all about watching movies and TV shows that portray the media industry! As soon as she meets John (Max Greenfield), the new art director, she falls in love with him despite their age difference. I can’t blame her. I mean, have you seen him?
Anyway, her friend’s granddaughter helps Doris see John’s Facebook profile so she can learn about him. From there, she scopes out his interests, which pays off, as that helps her befriend him.
My favourite scene is the one where Doris plays his favourite album in her bedroom and has a solo dance party to electronic music. She’s no Lena Dunham, but she’s super adorable. In fact, the lead singer of the band featured in the movie is played by Jack Antonoff, Lena Dunham’s boyfriend IRL.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu-BNRvoyoc’]
To borrow a word used to describe Max Greenfield’s New Girl co-star Zooey Deschanel, I think Doris is an all around adorkable gal. It was entertaining to watch her learn how to playfully bump fists with John and dress up for the concert in an all-neon outfit.
I also liked the small roles filled by famous actors I recognize from TV. There was The OC’s Peter Gallagher, who plays a motivational speaker in the movie and also happens to play Max Greenfield’s dad in New Girl. Peter’s character inspires Doris to rethink the impossible and learn a new mantra: I’m possible. Then there was Rich Sommer from Mad Men and Natasha Lyonne from Orange is the New Black, who rounded out John and Doris’ colleagues. Oh and how could I exclude 2 Broke Girls’ Beth Behrs? She plays John’s girlfriend and Doris’ frenemy.
Interwoven throughout the story is the rift between Doris and her brother. Doris adopted her late mother’s hoarding tendencies and is reluctant to sell her childhood home or get rid of the junk they collected. Fortunately, she has a therapist who is eager to help her, even outside of standard business hours.
Hello, My Name Is Doris has a fresh take on how people from different generations interact professionally and socially. It’s debatable whether the young people Doris meets are enamoured by her because they’re quietly mocking her or because they see a cool woman who’s determined to change her life and defy stereotypes of old people. Either way, I loved this movie and I recommend it.