Although it takes a great many broad strokes when it comes to its comedy, actor-turned-first-time feature writer-director Amy Landecker’s (Transparent) For Worse gets a great deal right when it comes to its more genuine looks about restarting one’s life after getting divorced in your 50s. Landecker plays Lauren, whose husband (Paul Adelstein) leaves her for a health and wellness influencer (Angelique Cabral), leaving Lauren alone, splitting time with their teen daughter (Caroline Miller), who seems to have a lot more in common with the new girlfriend than her mother.
Trying to reinvent herself and perhaps rediscover better times from her youth, Lauren takes acting classes (fellow Transparent star Gabby Hoffmann’s scenes as the instructor are priceless) and is partnered with the attractive, much younger Sean (Nico Hiraga), and the two immediately realize there’s a connection that may be nothing more than physical. When both are invited to the wedding of another one of the acting students, Maria (Kiersey Clemons), they decide to drive together and be each other’s dates, but as soon as they arrive and Sean meets the more age-appropriate bridesmaids (including Coco, played by Claudia Sulewski), he essentially abandons Lauren for the weekend.
After striking out with another one of the guests (a creepy magician played by the great Ken Marino), she meets Maria’s father, the also-divorced Dave (Landecker’s real-life husband, Bradley Whitford), and the two notice a spark between them, perhaps because of their similar situations (his ex’s new husband is a genuinely nice guy), but also, they’re both still people who aren’t ready to throw in the towel on life or love, even if the world is ready to right them off. Landecker’s script saves some of the best dialogue for these two in these early, getting-to-know-you moments. There’s a tinge of bitterness about the curveballs life has thrown their way, but they are still willing to try at least one more time to create a full life for themselves.
For Worse never gets overly serious, even when I wish it had taken a beat or two to explore the initial panic that Lauren goes through about her life after her divorce, or after the hurt of getting left behind by Sean for a younger model. There’s some nice supporting works from the likes of Missi Pyle (as Lauren’s crass best friend), Simon Helberg (as the divorce mediator), Liv Hewson, and even The Baltimorons’ Liz Larsen.
I also really loved the weird friendship that develops between Lauren and Todd (Spencer Stevenson), the gay brother of one of the two women getting married; the pair take smoke breaks and dish on the other guests and goings on during the lead up to the wedding. These moments have little to do with the ongoing story, but they add amusing touches of authenticity about the universe that develops around destination weddings. The more obvious jokes don’t hold a candle to these smaller touches that remind me of ones in the film’s of another of Landecker’s Transparent co-stars, Jay Duplass. With any luck, For Worse will be the first of many works directed by her and she can explore these corners of life and relationships that traditional rom-coms don’t always visit.
The film is now playing in theaters.
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