A nice respite from the usual Hollywood fare, Helen Hunt’s latest effort “Then She Found Me” manages to study the depth of human frailty with both humor and an uplifting message. In the hands of a lesser artist, this film could easily become a self-indulgence depression fest. Thankfully, Hunt realizes that by adding both humor and redemption she gives the audience a fuller representation of the human experience and human weakness.
Hunt, who also wrote, produced, and directed the movie, stars as April Epner an emotionally frail and unfulfilled middle-aged woman. The film demonstrates her internal torment in a heartbreaking scene when April explains to her family that she can never feel complete unless she gives birth. She totally rejects any suggestion of adoption even though she was adopted. Sadly, this self-loathing defines April as a person.
Indeed April goes as far as sabotaging her own happiness. When she meets the man of her dreams, Frank (Colin Firth), she manages to push him away by sleeping with her irresponsible man-child ex husband Ben (Matthew Broderick). In so doing, she rejects the man that can give her everything she desires – family, love, and security. Unfortunately something within April’s psyche does not believe she is worthy of happiness.
Thankfully Hunt uses humor to make the movie more palatable for the audience. She is masterful at creating outrageous characters whom the audience can’t help but laugh at. No one exemplifies this more than April’s birth mother Bernice Graves (Bette Midler) who is trying to reconnect with April. In one classic scene Bernice tries to convince April that her birth father is Steve McQueen. Hunt also knows how to create hilarious situations that help to define character. For example, Ben brings a date to April’s sonogram. While funny, this sequence also shows just how immature and socially inappropriate Ben can be.
Despite it’s dour underpinnings, “Then She Found Me” has an ultimate uplifting message of redemption. In spite of all of her psychological scarring, April humbles herself and apologizes to Frank for all of her bad behavior. Through uncharacteristic tenacity, April wins Frank back. Furthermore, after a tragic miscarriage, April finally manages to fulfill her maternal wishes through the adoption process she once so vigorously rejected. In so doing, April also has made some peace with herself. With a talent for balancing a dark study of the human psyche with humor and a message of redemption, Hunt earns the title of film auteur. We can only hope that this is first of many such efforts for Hunt.
