Nicole Holofcener's movie Enough Said tackles a subject often glossed over in the media, the unique issues regarding middle-age dating. The characters have to contend with their aging bodies, children from previous relationships, expectations and biases created from their divorces. Middle-Age dating is clearly not the same as dating in your twenties.
Enough Said is a quiet movie that packs a poignant punch. This is very likely a movie that won't be in theaters long and won't be a contender during awards season, but neither should deter you from going to see this wonderful film.
The bones of the film are strong, with a well-written script that has a good message regarding compassion and understanding. Every character in the movie has issues, most are minor, but all of them drive another character crazy. The characters in the story are inhibited by their own assumptions regarding others and this really becomes a major factor in the budding relationship between the two main characters, Eva (Julia Louis Dreyfus) and Albert (James Gandolfini).
The take-away moral from Holofcener's script is to look inward at your own issues, before judging others. The lesson is told in a gentle way, as none of the characters have any earth-shattering secrets or issues, which makes the story even more relatable and relevant.
The performances in Enough Said are understated and fantastic. What's great is the actors in the film are not cast in their typical "type". Gandolfini isn't a mobster, he's just a normal dad. Dreyfus isn't playing neurotic. Toni Collette has her native Australian Accent! Gandolfini's performance is particularly heartbreaking, as one of his character's issues is dealing with his obesity while trying to date. His weight is the elephant in the room.
Enough Said is a little film with a big voice and even bigger heart. Go see it!