Watch Please Give
- R
- 2010
-
6.6 (11,575)
Please Give is a dramedy written and directed by Nicole Holofcener. The movie examines the lives of two Manhattan couples and their relationships with each other and the world around them. Catherine Keener plays Kate, a woman in her early 50s who runs a vintage furniture store with her husband Alex, played by Oliver Platt. The couple is looking to expand their business, and their opportunity arises when the elderly neighbor next door passes away. The apartment will be available for sale soon, and they plan to buy it and knock down the wall to expand their store.
Meanwhile, their neighbors Rebecca Hall and Amanda Peet are sisters. Hall plays Mary, a radiology technician who feels unfulfilled and unsatisfied with her life. Peet plays Rebecca, a stay-at-home mother who is struggling to come to terms with her appearance as she ages.
As the movie progresses, the lives of the two couples begin to intersect in unexpected ways. Kate and Alex argue over whether or not to sell a rare sofa to a man who wants to buy it for his ailing grandfather, while Mary becomes involved in the lives of the elderly patients she works with. Rebecca, on the other hand, starts to get attention from a handsome young guy who is trying to work up the courage to ask her out.
The characters in Please Give are all struggling with different issues, whether it's middle-aged guilt, self-esteem issues, or general dissatisfaction with their lives. The movie explores these themes with intelligence and humor, and the performances from the cast are all excellent.
Catherine Keener is particularly great as Kate, who often comes across as cold and judgmental but is really just trying to make sense of her life. Oliver Platt is also great as Alex, who is a bit of a clueless goofball but means well. Rebecca Hall, who always seems to excel in these kinds of indie films, is heartbreakingly vulnerable as Mary, while Amanda Peet gives a strong performance as Rebecca.
Overall, Please Give is a well-written and well-acted character study that is both funny and touching. The movie doesn't offer any easy answers to the issues the characters are dealing with, but it does offer a sense of hope that they'll find a way to move forward. It's a movie that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt stuck in life and unsure of what to do next.
Please Give is a 2010 comedy. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 78.