
Mary and Max
2009
A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.
Richard LaGravenese
Gerry
William
Sharon
Denise
Holly
Daniel
2/17/2024
6/10
Scots-born Gerard Butler ("Gerry") sports an American accent and comes from Ireland so maybe this isn't going to be the most plausible rom-com? He has a fiery but loving relationship with his wife "Holly" (Hilary Swank) who can't decide if she wants kids or not. Sadly, his active role in the film is cut short and she is left to deal with the consequences of widowhood. She's not alone on her new journey, though. "Gerry" had anticipated her predicament and left some letters to help her get through the grief and set off on a new path - however reluctantly she might want one. At first it's a cake for her birthday then as more arrive we start to appreciate more about how they met and fell in love. Some disastrous karaoke, temper tantrums and his downright hostile relationship with her mother "Patricia" (Kathy Bates). A trip to Ireland helps her to recalibrate though, and a meeting with local musician "William" (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) makes he realise that her life has plenty of legs in it yet. At home, lifelong friend "Daniel" (Harry Connick Jr.) presses his suit and makes her think even more about her future. Can she find love again? Connick is on decent form as is Bates, but the remainder of this is just a bit too sentimental for mea and the humour doesn't land often enough. There's little by way of chemistry on display and though the letter-writing concept is quite original, the execution becomes just a bit too episodic and Butler tries too hard to make this work. It's perfectly watchable, but is too workmanlike to be memorable.
2009
2014
2007
1995
2010
1994
1948
1999
2025
2008
2004
1959
1989
1951
2004
2000
1978
2009
1980
2014