Film Review: SHE CAME TO ME (2023): Rebecca Miller’s Dramatic Comedy is a Sweet, Feel-Good Romance

She Came to Me Review

She Came to Me (2023) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Rebecca Miller and starring Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Evan Ellison, Harlow Jane, Joanna Kulig, Brian d’Arcy James, Judy Gold, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Samuel H. Levine, Sue Jean Kim, Gregg Edelman, Aaiok Mehta, Chris Gethard, Dale Soules and Tommy Buck.

Rebecca Miller’s She Came to Me is such a sweet movie that it will most likely win audiences over by the time the end credits roll. Miller’s picture has a great cast that includes two female Oscar winners (Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei) and a seasoned male lead (Peter Dinklage). The love triangle that develops between the three characters these performers play is paralleled to the relationship between a much younger couple (played by Evan Ellison and Harlow Jane). Miller’s capable writing and direction will keep viewers invested in the story line even if it takes a few unnecessary detours along the way.

Dinklage plays Steven Lauddem, an Opera composer in New York City whose star is fading thanks to lack of inspiration. He’s in a marriage with his ex-therapist, Patricia (Hathaway) but their sex life is non-existent these days. When Steven goes to a bar (with his dog who he leaves outside), he meets a tugboat captain named Katrina Trento (Tomei). Steven goes with her to her boat where he proceeds to engage in a steamy encounter with her. Katrina says she’s “addicted to romance” which sounds like a red flag to Steven who quickly flees the boat. He doesn’t leave without true inspiration, though, that leads to a premise to create his next opera.

Patricia’s teenage son from another marriage, Julian (Ellison), is romantically involved with their Polish cleaning lady, Magdalena (Joanna Kulig)’s daughter, Tereza (Jane). Magdalena’s boyfriend, Trey (Brian d’Arcy James) isn’t a big fan of Tereza’s involvement with a boy a couple of years her senior. Trey ultimately becomes more than a bit controlling as the movie progresses.

Dinklage is enjoyable to watch here, especially in some of the movie’s lighter moments. When Steven keeps interrupting his female opera performer’s rehearsal, it’s hilarious. Steven is trying to capture Katrina in the opera through this performer’s work and because Steven is a perfectionist, it soon becomes time for Steven to exit the rehearsal if he wants the show to go on. Dinklage has fine comedic timing even when he’s playing a scene straight.

Tomei is likable in a performance that is believable. They have downplayed Tomei’s typically glamorous looks just a bit to portray the lonely boat captain who finds in Steven a potential romantic match. When Katrina shows up at the opera unexpectedly, Steven hilariously flees the scene with him ending up in bed with his shoes on where Patricia disappointingly catches him.

Hathaway becomes immersed in her character as Patricia finds a religious calling that causes her to have a nervous breakdown of sorts. A great scene has Patricia taking her clothes off in front of a patient as she seems to have completely lost her ability to take all the stress she has endured recently in her life. Hathaway may appear to be too attractive, at times, for the part but she handles some difficult scenes extremely well.

The surprise of the movie is the bond formed between Julian and Tereza who have to make a decision regarding their relationship when Trey becomes a threat to their continued happiness. Ellison and Jane create romantic chemistry that is based on more than physical attraction. These characters love each other and this premise will merge with the other stories in the film as Katrina must help them in an unexpected way by the film’s end.

She Came to Me is not a perfect film by any measure. Trey appears to be much more threatening than the movie ultimately allows him to be. Things with Steven and Katrina happen too quickly. It’s hard to believe they would sleep together virtually within hours of meeting. Patricia’s desire to become a nun feels like an unnecessary distraction to the story line and feels like an easy way out so that the movie can focus more on the connection between Steven and Katrina.

Those problems aside, She Came to Me is still a moving picture. Bruce Springsteen adds a song to the movie’s end credits (“Addicted to Romance”) which is a delightful bonus to those who love his music. Dinklage and Tomei have a good rapport on screen even though they are kept apart for much of the film. There also aren’t a lot of scenes between Steven and Patricia either that really define the reason they ultimately decided to get married. But, never mind.

In the end, She Came to Me is the type of movie that you watch with an open heart. Don’t think too much about the plot because there are holes but rather enjoy the delightful performances by the three principal players which will make the movie a new favorite for those who like sweet, good-hearted movies. You don’t have to be addicted to romance to fall under the movie’s charming spell. It’s a nice film.

Rating: 7.5/10

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