LilyDaleLady It's depressing to see a fine actress and lovely lady like Susan Sarandon reduced to doing this kind of comic shtick. There isn't much here you couldn't find in a 1950s TV sitcom about an "interfering mother" -- about the only surprise is that the character of Marnie Minervini is not Jewish, but Italian. (Speaking of that: would an Italian mother be bringing over BAGELS? not biscotti or cannoli? Really?)The stereotype of the bossy smother-mother -- well-intentioned, but SO overbearing -- is a very, very old trope and yet the director here, Lorene Scafaria, seems to think she's struck comedic gold. A bonus feature on the DVD is an interview with Scafaria and her own real life mother, on whom the film characters are based...and it comes across as creepy & troubling, not cute. About the only thing original is that the "smother-mother" here, Marnie, is a baby boomer and not a member of the Greatest Generation...if you fall into that demographic, it is a bit jarring to realize you are now among the OLDSTERS being mocked, and not the "young hip generation" anymore.But the problem with THAT, is when an overbearing mother of that former era was caricatured (unfairly I think), we KNEW someone of that age was a lifetime homemaker & mother, with no real education or career outside of that. So when their kids were grown and their spouse passed away, they had literally NOTHING else in their lives. That is very hard to accept when it comes to a boomer mom, who almost certainly had a career, went to college, etc. If we take Rose Bryne (age 38) and Susan Sarandon (who looks amazing at 70) literally...she did not have her daughter until she was 32. Yet there is no sense whatsoever that Marnie has ever had a profession or career, even part-time...that she had any life beyond marriage & kids...that she has same-age friends (and not just her daughter's friends)...or a life in Manhattan that she has left behind...or that she has always hovered over Lori (Bryne) who at least in her late 30s, for Lori's entire life.That's because Marnie is reduced to a stereotype; a meddling, clinging old crone with no life of her own. If Scarfaria thinks this about her own mother (besides mining her for lame jokes), it is pretty darn sad.Of course the vehicle that finally gives Marnie "a new life" and gets her claws out of Lori (a little) has to be....a new romance, supplied by J.K. Simmons (who's as charming as always). Indeed, nice single men in their 70s are clamoring for gorgeous Marnie here, which frankly is not something I've seen much for women I know over 60. And in LOS ANGELES! In other words: it is apparently not possible for a woman to heal from widowhood or loneliness or clinginess...unless she finds a new lover/husband.The other kinda distasteful element of the film is that Scarfaria (either reflecting real life OR a kind of cultural elitism) has made Marnie staggeringly wealthy. Of course, some people ARE really wealthy, but THAT also means the story is far less universal. Most older widows struggle financially -- your Social Security check is cut by a third when your spouse dies -- but not Marnie! SHE has apparently inherited MILLIONS from her husband, about which she acts as if he were a great-uncle who left her an unexpected inheritance. (Wasn't their wealth, their mutual assets, HALF HERS all this time? why was she SURPRISED to get it?) Out of a combination of guilt, wealth, control, naivete, and self-destructiveness, Marnie seems driven to spend her millions inappropriately -- buying expensive Apple electronics for people she barely knows, and throwing a very costly, large wedding for two ALREADY MARRIED lesbian friends of her daughter ....a couple whom she has just met! -- at first offering them $13,000 as tax-free gift....but then, paying entirely for a wedding which is clearly more than 2-3 times that much, being a catered affair on a rented YACHT and including a very costly designer dress for the bride!Though the whole concept is tedious, I think that last part lost the whole believability aspect for me. Even sitcoms have to be grounded in something relatable. If my mother spent a sizable chunk of her assets (and my future inheritance!) on a stranger's gay wedding (and not MY OWN wedding!)...I'd be properly concerned she was mentally ill or even showing signs of impending dementia. That isn't cute. It's troubling. It is troubling if the lesbian couple accepts this much money from a wealthy stranger, even as a gift. NOBODY here is behaving like anything resembling a real, normal human being in 2015.Not funny. Sad.

SnoopyStyle Marnie (Susan Sarandon) lives an empty life after the death of her husband Joey. His death left her with more money than she needs. She moved from New York to L.A. to be close to her TV writer daughter Lori (Rose Byrne) and her grand-doggies. It's a struggle to fill her days and she is constantly trying to get into Lori's life. She's even going to Lori's therapist. Lori is suffering about her ex Jacob and from Marnie's meddling. Lori travels to New York. Marnie promises to pay for Lori's friend Jillian (Cecily Strong)'s wedding. She gives rides to Freddy from the Apple genius store. She volunteers at the hospital. Zipper (J.K. Simmons) is a retired cop working on a movie set that Marnie accidentally works onto.This actually works better after Lori leaves town. Marnie's adventures are fun. Jillian's wedding feels a little Bridesmaids. There is an overload of funny women but it's fine. Jerrod Carmichael is a fun little appetizer but the main course is J.K. Simmons. I actually missed these characters when Marnie goes to New York. I would rather have an indie about Marnie with Jillian, Freddy, and Zipper. It's a bit depressing without them and I can only take so much.

lavatch "The Meddler" includes some touching, heartfelt moments in the mother-daughter relationship of Marnie Minervini (Susan Sarandan) and Lori Minervini (Rose Byrne). Their bonding unfolds as they are recovering from the death of the husband/father who meant so much to their lives.As the film begins, there is no doubt that the "meddler" is Sarandon's character Marnie, who is interfering in her daughter's life. Both characters have relocated from New York to Los Angeles, and neither has truly grieved the loss of Joey. But the mother's oppressive behavior begins to drive a wedge between the characters.While there are some clichés, such as a stereotypical film psychiatrist, and some scenes that stretch credibility, such as Marnie becoming a chauffeur to a young computer store employee, other moments are creatively developed. The film shifts gears as Marnie truly begins to affect the lives of a young lesbian couple and and elderly hospital patient. Those subplots are some of the most moving in the film.J.K. Simmons turns in an excellent performance as the unfortunately named Randall Zipper becomes the unexpected love interest in Marnie's life. The relationship of the ex-cop Zipper and Marnie is thoughtfully developed.While there were good lines dialogue, interesting characters, and imaginative situations (especially Zipper's chickens!), the strength of the film is Sarandan's standout performance. Her character's meddling turns into altruism and human sensitivity in an extremely well-developed character.

Reno Rangan Written and directed by a female director of 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World' fame. The film revolves around an aging woman who recently lost her husband is now trying her best for her only daughter who is still a single in her middle age. With all the wealth she inherited from her dead husband, she uses them for the good cause of the people in her circle. This is like a sweet little film, about doing what seems the right thing to do. So it is a feel good kind of film that suits for the family audience.A simple drama, but it also portrayed the struggles, in a good sense like no stress or violence in it. Some of the comedies were really good, makes you laugh when you least expected. At a time slightly romantic, but mostly stays away from that concept. More like a retired person thing, like how their life goes on on the daily basis was the idea of this film. Like how you keep yourself engaged with something, including learning the current trends and making small- small mistakes unknowingly, totally appeals softly.Susan Sarandon was superb and her co-stars like Rose Byrne, JK Simmons and others were not bad either. I don't think this is just for women, pretty much the same for everybody, I mean the watching experience would be. I did not know what to expect, but ended up liking it, so I hope the same for you as well. This is not a gem, but still worth a watch for the way everything told in the film. Particularly if you are bored of the blowing up building stuffs, it would be like a refresher if you give it a try.7/10