Hello, My Name is Doris

What happens when a sixtyish woman finds herself alone for the first time in her life? Recently her mother died, she fails to make friends at her long-time job, she still lives in her childhood home and it looks like her clothes come from Value Village or Goodwill. She goes to a self-help seminar, that's what happens!

Laura Terruso wrote a short film "Doris and the Intern" which she later expanded into a screenplay with writer/director Michael Showalter (Lots of TV) for this awkward but eventually uplifting story.

We watch:

• Sally Field ("The Amazing Spider-Man") is Doris (after Doris Day, one of her mother's favorites) who cherishes a lifetime of memorabilia: everything has a special place in her heart. She's called a hoarder, but I wouldn't go quite that far.
• Max Greenfield (Lots of TV) plays John, an employee recently transferred to the office where Doris works. He has good manners and wants people to like him. He's also VERY appealing.
• Tyne Daly (Lots of TV) Old friend Roz almost steals the film from Doris, particularly as they plan their annual Thanksgiving festivities. These two old pros are terrific together!
• Stephen Root (Lots of TV - also the stapler-centric character in "Office Space" 1999) Todd also mourns their mother, but he and his wife want Doris to unclutter her life, move out, sell the old family house and share the proceeds.
• Isabella Acres (Lots of TV) Vivian is barely a teenager but she teaches Doris all about Facebook ...and changes her life!
• Peter Gallagher (Lots of TV) Self-help guru Willy Williams tells Doris that "IMPOSSIBLE" is simply "I'M POSSIBLE" just in a different way. His DVD becomes her guide.

What is it about Sally Field? Even if her character becomes a semi- stalker, makes clumsy mistakes and hurts the feelings of people around her, we still care about her. This time she develops a crush on a much younger co-worker who is polite but oblivious. This only feeds her self-delusions, so we watch her become a moon-struck teenager. We are uncomfortable with the situation, but still want the best for Doris. At least her fantasies are fun and we get an insider's peek at how her mind works.

I wasn't overjoyed with the movie, but with Sally Field and Tyne Daly in the mix, I still found it fun.

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See what I mean:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3014242841
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