‘Enough Said’: A Smart Romantic Comedy for Grown-Ups

Albert (James Galdofini) and Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) star, in “Enough Said.” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

PG-13 | 1h 33m | Drama, Comedy, Romance | 2013

The year that produced the worst roster of summer popcorn fare in decades also produced four superb romance movies geared towards the over-40 demographic. These are the antithesis of formulaic, bloated, mainstream extravaganzas.  First in 2013 was “Love is All You Need,” then “Unfinished Song,” followed by “Still Mine,” and finally, the best of the bunch, “Enough Said.”

Contrary to what was circulated at the time, this was not the final screen performance of the late James Gandolfini: That would be “The Drop”  in 2014, a crime drama based on the short story “Animal Rescue” by Dennis Lehane.

Teen daughter Ellen (Tracey Fairaway) and Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in "Enough Said." (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Atypical Leading Man

“Enough Said” is the only movie where Gandolfini plays the romantic lead, and after watching it, you get the feeling he should have been in more movies like it. His character Albert is a more accurate reflection of American men than anything found in most movies, but because he’s soft-spoken, balding, and overweight, Albert is not what comes to mind when studio producers green-light projects.

It wouldn’t be going out on a limb to assume that Gandolfini never received any offers for characters like Albert because of the indelible impression he left while playing lead character Tony in “The Sopranos.”

There have been many performers whose success in a single, small screen role stereotyped them and crippled everything they did, or tried to do, afterwards. Even though she has starred in three successful TV series since, Julia Louis-Dreyfus will forever be associated with her supporting role as Elaine in “Seinfeld.”

Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Marianne (Catherine Keener), in “Enough Said.” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

High Standards

In “Enough Said,” Ms. Louis-Dreyfus takes the lead as Eva. Her character is a variation on Elaine, minus the shallow self-absorption and misplaced, run-amuck ego. Eva is a “home-delivery” masseuse who makes a decent living, but isn’t very fond of her clients. One has bad breath, another blabbers on incessantly, and another (a male) regularly fails to help carry her heavy, bulky table up a high, steep staircase. Long divorced with a teen daughter (Tracey Fairaway) preparing for college, Eva has more or less given up on dating, mostly because she has impossibly high standards.

At a party she attends with her psychiatrist friend Sarah (Toni Collette) and Sarah’s husband Will (Ben Falcone), Eva meets Albert, also with a college-bound daughter. She’s refreshingly surprised with his offbeat humor and absence of pretense. Also at the party is Marianne (Catherine Keener), a professional poet who, in keeping with most Keener characters, is a bit prickly and aloof, yet asks Eva for her card and eventually becomes a client and confidant.

When Sarah tells Eva the next day that Albert asked about possibly dating her, she dismisses it. He’s not her type and is “too fat.” Sarah, slyly slipping into work mode, convinces Eva to give Albert a chance and, go figure, Eva goes on the date and has a great time.

Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Albert (James Gandolfini) go on a date, in “Enough Said.” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Normal Adult Dialogue

The dialogue exchanged during Eva and Albert’s first two dates is among the finest ever written for an adult romance. It blends drama, comedy, mild sexual innuendo, and awkwardness into a seamless whole. Writer and director Nicole Holofcener achieves the near impossible: She makes what normal adults might consider to be frivolous small talk sound significant and effortless.

These are two people getting to know each other in the best possible manner, and it is pure bliss for them and the audience. We totally forget about Tony and Elaine, and that’s no mean feat.

If you want to be fully surprised with what happens from the start of the second act and beyond, do yourself a huge favor: Don’t watch the trailer. It gives away the film’s biggest twist, and does everyone involved in the creation of “Enough Said” an incredible disservice. It also makes the movie look more like a traditional dumbed-down romcom and fails to include any of the many dramatic high points.

While funny most of the time, Ms. Holofcener rightfully realizes that no relationship worth its salt is without bumps or unpleasant sidetracks. These inclusions make the picture all the more authentic, relatable, and heartfelt, without ever being sappy, maudlin, or force-fit.

(L–R) Director Nicole Holofcener, James Gandolfini, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the set of “Enough Said.” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Ms. Holofcener’s bravest narrative choice and greatest achievement (which some may angrily compare to the final episode of “The Sopranos”) is ending the film with a cold cut-to-black in mid-scene without the inclusion of definitive closure.

After the cast credits, there’s more black, and then the words “For Jim.” It’s easily the most moving bit of post-action text you’re ever likely to see. It will possibly elicit goose flesh and eye moisture and make you realize you’ve just witnessed acting perfection, despite that big gut, thinning hair, grey beard, questionable wardrobe choices, and all of those other pesky, unsexy attributes.

The film is available on home video and to stream on Fandango and Amazon Prime.

‘Enough Said’ Director: Nicole Holofcener Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Katherine Keener, Toni Collette, Tracey Fairaway Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Release Date: Oct. 11, 2013 Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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