If ever there was a reason to love Sally Field, this is it.
It’s getting harder to recall her early years as The Flying Nun in the late 1960s as she’s become such a consummate actor over the decades; one that just gets better with each passing year.
Hello, My Name is Doris is one of those rare comedies where predictability works in its favour. We know where the story is heading and the angst of it all adds to both the comedy and pathos of this superbly realised comedy/romance.
Doris (Sally Field) is a mouse of a figure; an elderly spinster still mourning the death of her mother and the loss of her own life that was dedicated to looking after her mum. Dragged to a self-help seminar by a well-meaning friend, Doris unexpectedly rediscovers herself and decides to pursue a hunky but much younger new co-worker (Max Greenfield) who has treated her kindly.
Field is nothing short of sensational. Her comedic timing is perfection personified, yet she oozes enough pathos to have tissues on the ready. We know where her tragic fixation is going to lead but can’t help barracking for her as she rediscovers and reinvents herself.
Greenfield holds his own against the powerhouse performance of Field. He’s her dream man but simultaneously, just a regular guy whose actions can be misinterpreted.
Written by Laura Terruso and Michael Showalter, and directed by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris is a delightfully funny film that is written and presented with immense heart. Doris could easily be a laughable figure yet we’re on her side from the start.
This is a highly entertaining movie. It has many laugh-out-loud moments, yet it remains a meaningful and personal journey that is a privilege to watch.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Rating out of 10: 9
My Name is Doris is released this week on DVD.
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