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Then She Found Me

Recommended only for people who love being miserable

By Matt Pais

Metromix
May 2, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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39-year-old grade school teacher April (Helen Hunt) desperately wants a baby but experiences a dramatic setback when, in the span of a few days, her husband (Matthew Broderick) leaves her, her adopted mother dies and her birth mother (Bette Midler) attempts to get to know her. This gives her plenty of reason to mope around, despite the romantic pursuits of a single father (Colin Firth), who’s a considerably more interesting character than anyone else here.

Big question: Can co-writer/producer/star/first-time feature director Hunt lend non-sappy weight to Elinor Lipman’s novel?

Skip it: To the sounds of mopey indie music seemingly chosen by Zach Braff, “Then She Found Me” twists, contorts and flails to maintain a level of quirkiness despite Hunt’s Debbie Downer performance. These attempts at humor are unbearable and awkward -- after April says things can’t get worse, the film quickly cuts to a cemetery; Ha! -- and the insufferable story’s built only on lies, forced romance and out-of-character choices that exist merely to grind the plot along.

Catch it: If you’re not a fan of tipping bathroom attendants, you’ll be glad to see April leaves only change. Her excuse: “I’m a teacher.” (Because clearly Donald Trump leaves handfuls of hundreds.)

Bottom line: The experience of watching “Then She Found Me” couldn’t be as agonizing as the trauma onscreen, but it’s close. Of course, if you can relate to mothers and daughters sake bombing together, trite discussions of God and faith, or a teacher spooning with the father of a student IN THE KID’S ROOM, then don’t let us stop you.

Bonus: If you weren’t nauseated by the montage of getting-to-know-you-phone-calls in “Elizabethtown,” here’s another opportunity to see essentially the same thing.

What do you think of 'Then She Found Me'? Email me: mpais@tribune.com