The trailers for this film are misleading, promising raucous comedy from the director of The Devil Wears Prada. But this is actually a resonant emotional drama seasoned with earthy humour. Yes, there are funny moments, but don't go in expecting full-on hilarity. It's grounded by terrific performances from Streep and Jones as a couple who, after 31 years of marriage, have lost that spark of romance. This is a pretty serious theme for a movie, and the film takes a straight-on look at the issue.The story starts when Kay (Streep) finally refuses to accept her dried-up marriage to Arnold (Jones), who can't see any reason to change things. She enrols them in an intensive counselling session in Hope Springs, Maine, with a well-known therapist (Carell), and after initially refusing to go, Arnold tags along. Their sessions immediately hone in on their nonexistent sex life, which causes both Kay and Arnold to squirm in their seats (and provides most of the laughs for the audience). And their small-step exercises aren't exactly a roaring success. But Kay is determined that she wants a real relationship or nothing at all.
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