REVIEW: Home Again is a Feel Good Time

The only constant in life is change and it is consistently hard for all of us. The thought of the unknown tends to prevent many from taking a risk and changing their lives, but that is not the case in Home Again a delightful new comedy starring Reese Witherspoon.

Home Again is the story of Alice (Witherspoon), a mom who moves her two daughters from New York City to Los Angeles, her hometown, after she separates from her always absent husband. Once home, Alice finds it hard to break out of the slump is in until one wild night on her 40th birthday changes everything.

The nice thing about this film is what you see is what you get. It’s not trying to be something it’s not or stray too far from the main story. This is the tale of a mother getting her life, and groove back on track. There are a few moments I wish the writer and director, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, had expanded on, like Alice’s famous director father, John. And the film would be aided if more time was spent rounding out supporting characters, such as Teddy (Nat Wolff) and George (Jon Rudnitsky). But these drawbacks are sparse, the film is a fun way to spend an evening.

Reese Witherspoon is great as Alice. Like many of Reese’s roles, there is something about her that draws you in and, in this case, leaves you wanting to be one of the people living with her in her LA home. The three men that move in, Teddy, George, and Harry have some of the best scenes in the movie. Nat Wolff, Jon Rudnitsky, and Pico Alexander have such great chemistry and they play so well with Reese that it makes you believe they could live together in real life. The three also brought several laughs to what could easily have been a boring movie.

Home Again is the perfect movie to see on a rainy afternoon or a night in with your friends. What it lacks in story it makes up for in entertainment. It’s one of those feel good films that comes around every once in a blue moon.

Grade: B-