Watch The Meddler

The Meddler is a heartwarming comedy-drama film from 2015, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. The movie features an impressive cast, including Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne, J.K. Simmons, and German Cabrera. The story follows Marnie Minervini (played by Sarandon), a recent widow who moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be close to her adult daughter Lori (played by Byrne), who is trying to establish herself as a screenwriter. Marnie is a well-meaning but overbearing mother, who constantly calls Lori and leaves her voicemails about her everyday activities and worries. She also tries to help Lori with various tasks, which often leads to comedic mishaps.

Despite Lori's annoyance with her mother's intrusions, Marnie is determined to make the most of her new life in LA. She fills her days with activities such as yoga, volunteering at a hospital, and visiting her Apple Store genius bar friend Freddy (played by Cabrera). She even starts dating an affable retired cop named Zipper (played by Simmons).

As Marnie tries to adjust to her new surroundings, she slowly starts to build new relationships and find purpose in her life. She befriends a group of women at her yoga class, including the charming and open-hearted Jillian (played by Cecily Strong). Marnie also becomes a sort of surrogate mother to Freddy, who is dealing with his own family issues.

However, Marnie is also dealing with her grief and loneliness, and the movie tackles these emotions with sensitivity and humor. Sarandon's performance as Marnie is both endearing and relatable, and the audience is truly invested in her journey.

One of the highlights of the movie is the relationship between Marnie and Zipper. Simmons brings a warmth and humor to his role that perfectly complements Sarandon's performance. The scenes between the two actors are some of the most touching in the film.

Another standout performance in the movie comes from Byrne, who captures the frustration of a daughter struggling with the boundaries of her relationship with her mother. The scenes between her and Sarandon are both funny and poignant and demonstrate the complicated dynamics between parents and adult children.

Overall, The Meddler is a charming and well-executed film that explores themes of family, grief, and finding purpose in life. Scafaria's direction balances humor and emotional depth, and the ensemble cast delivers strong performances, with Sarandon leading the way. It's a movie that will make you both laugh and cry, and one that you'll find yourself thinking about long after the credits roll.

The Meddler is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 11 minutes.