She Came to Me Movie Review

This romantic fantasy, “She Came to Me” was written and directed by Rebecca Miller, which is a considerable feat, mind you, but I find it interesting that several people, including Nicole Kidman and Matthew Broderick, left before production began. The movie is anything but romantic and feels rushed, suggesting that Miller should have considered a more experienced director behind the lens. The story itself wasn’t any better, but maybe someone could have made this piece work. It’s about love. It’s about romance, but those two words must be revised here.​

The characters are all over the place, each a bit crazed as they slowly realize they don’t and never have had what they want. However, they believe they can attain it if they believe in themselves enough.

Instead, what you find are people who were and still are being pushed around by those who should be their biggest supporters. Sure. They show a little care, but it’s not devotion or tenderness.

Steven (Golden Globe® winner Peter Dinklage) is an opera composer who has a crippling disorder of writer’s block at the moment. He was depressed and saw a therapist named Patricia (Academy Award® winner Anne Hathaway), whom he then married.

She’s cold but somewhat complementary. However, she loads Steven up with pills that make it hard for him to think straight, and she also limits their sex to only one night a week.

Steven is having a particularly rough day. She tells him he should take a walk, which will turn his negativity into something he can manage. He ends up in a bar and runs into a tugboat captain named Katrina, played by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei. They have a friendly chat, and she ends up asking if he’d like to see her boat. He agrees, and she lures him into having sex with her. She admits she’s addicted to romance and sex. Steven happened to be in the bar, so he was the day’s target.

After, his mind is clearer, so he writes an opera based on her and their experience. It ends up similar to “Sweeny Todd” and is loved by all who’ve come to see it. A guest he didn’t expect to be there is, none other than, Katrina, who recognizes herself in the storyline.

Speaking of storyline, where is the romance and where is the love in this film. Where is the comedy??

A relationship develops between Patricia and Steven’s 18-year-old son, Julian (Evan Ellison), and the cleaning lady, Magdalena (Joanna Kulig), 16-year-old daughter, Tereza (Harlow Jane). Tereza’s intolerant and vile stepfather, Trey (Brian D’Arcy James), who spends time as a Civil War Reenactor, full garb and all, may have a slight problem with the color of Julian’s skin. It leads to some trouble where police may become involved, but because Katrina has a tugboat and an escape is needed, it’s Katrina to the rescue.

As I watched this, I had a hard time grasping its intentions. Characters are deranged and there’s nothing profound or exceptionally provocative or noteworthy about the narrative woven to get them there where they are. It’s peculiar. You may want to complete it once you’ve started watching, but it’s only worthwhile if there’s nothing else to watch. It’s genuinely too confusing and unrealistic to dive into.

I can’t knock the music. It was all wonderful. Worthy of mentioning is the original song “Addicted to Romance,” written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. You’ll hear this at the end.

Local planned theaters are listed below:

Scottsdale 101

Ahwatukee 24

Roadhouse Cinema Scottsdale