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Then She Found Me

Helen Hunt's labor of love is cute...kinda

By Geoff Berkshire

Metromix
April 24, 2008

Critic's Rating:

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April Epner (Helen Hunt) is closing in on 40 and desperate for a baby, but her life gets even more complicated when her husband (Matthew Broderick) leaves her and a vivacious stranger (Bette Midler) shows up claiming to be her birth mother. The only source of comfort in April's chaotic life is the father (Colin Firth) of one of her students.

Big question: How does Hunt fare in her first feature-length stint behind the camera?

Skip it: As far as vanity labor of love projects go, Hunt's heart appears to be in the right place here—April gets most of the juiciest speeches but never completely overshadows the other characters—and the Oscar-winning actress isn't afraid to look every one of her character's 39-years on camera. But there's ultimately just nothing special about the story being told, and its nearly 20-year journey from novel to movie (including a stint at Sigourney Weaver's production company) hardly seems worth the effort.

Catch it: If you’ve been waiting 21 years for the reunion of “Project X” co-stars Hunt and Broderick, or if you just want to see if you can spot any awkward tension in the on screen love scenes between the former off screen lovers.

Bottom line: Hunt proves a competent enough director, but the material's familiar mix of inspirational comedy/drama doesn't make much of an impact. "Then She Found Me" will do just fine as quirky filler on women's cable networks, but considering the talent involved there was reason to expect more.

Bonus: A contender for most baffling stunt casting of the year: controversial author Salman Rushdie has a small supporting role as April’s gynecologist.