328 – Hope Springs

What this episode covers

It’s been a minute since we talked about Meryl Streep, so we decided what better time than Valentine’s Day and her 2012 romantic drama Hope Springs. Streep stars alongside Tommy Lee Jones as a sexually frustrated older couple who submits to a couples therapy retreat (led by Steve Carell) hoping to rekindle their spark. Summer counterprogramming to the Batmans and the Bournes, the film performed at the box office but did not prove the type of Meryl summer smash that has earned her Oscar love. This episode, we talk about the movie’s quaint but honest depiction of generational sexual frustration and the solid work from Streep and Jones. We also discuss the underutilization of its recognizable supporting cast, Carell joins our Six Timers, and the timeless Globes presentation pairing of Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig. Topics also include Sex Trips For Straight Women From A Gay Man, Meryl’s third Oscar, and love languages.