Directed by: Billy Crystal
Starring: Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Barry Levinson, Kevin Kline, Sharon Stone, Anna Deveare Smith, Laura Benanti, Louisa Krause
There is something warm and fuzzy about Billy Crystal that takes the edge off of a subject even as harrowing as dementia. In the opening sequence of Here Today, famed comedy writer Charlie Burnz (Crystal) is taking the same walk to work he takes every day. He even recognizes what to do when he approaches a familiar stop sign or intersection. ("Turn left here"). Charlie has been diagnosed with the early stages of dementia and is trying to do what he can to maintain his normal lifestyle. He works as a writer for a weekly cable TV show, serving as a mentor to the younger writers whose material never seems to make it to the show. If you watch the unfunny skits which do air, you wonder how bad these writers have to be to not have any of their segments deemed funny enough to make it to broadcast.
Charlie loves typing on an old fashioned typewriter and his routine, mostly because his routine helps him remember things. As his doctor advises, though, this and medication can only hold off the inevitable for so long. Charlie will soon be overtaken by his condition and won't remember anything, including his kids with whom he has a chilly relationship. He is attempting to write his memoirs but mostly stares at a blank page. He only appears to recall the bad moments in his life, such as when a police officer appears at his door to tell him his wife was killed in a car crash.
Enter Emma Page (Haddish), who after her breakup with her cheating boyfriend decides to take his place at a lunch with Charlie which he bid on for charity. Charlie is shocked to learn the lunch didn't cost much at auction and is even more shocked when Emma develops a nasty seafood allergy and needs a trip to the emergency room. Even after that episode, Emma and Charlie develop a warm friendship. They get along and they like each other. A romantic subplot here would be unnecessary. Charlie becomes a father figure and Emma becomes a daughter figure, especially since his real daughter Francine (Benanti) still blames him for her mother's death.
Emma, a singer who works mostly in underground night clubs, catches on that Charlie suffers from dementia. Charlie hasn't told his children or granddaughter whom he dotes on, but Emma decides to forego a world tour to take care of him. We witness a sweet side to Haddish we haven't seen before. It suits her, although I wish Crystal pared down some of her singing performances such as her rendition of "Piece of My Heart" at his granddaughter's bat mitzvah. It's well done, but drags on.
Crystal films his recollections of his late wife Carrie (the luminous Krause) by having her speak into the camera which acts as Charlie's eyes and ears. These scenes work without the technique becoming distracting. Krause's eyes smile even when she's angry, so we are not surprised Charlie fell in love with her so fast. The camera adores her. So do we.
Does Here Today run a bit too long? Yes, but hey it's Billy Crystal so we forgive him. Is it schmaltzy? Of course, but Crystal the actor and director knows just what heartstrings to pluck and for how long. Here Today could've been a depressing slog, but Crystal and Haddish figure a way to make it fresh and explore even some comic possibilities with the material. Here Today is a comedy about a serious subject that doesn't come off as depressing or underplay the seriousness.
No comments:
Post a Comment