While Kristen Wiig has done her share of logical post-“Bridesmaids” roles in films like “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” and “The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty,” she has also used the opportunities presented by the hit comedy to try and stretch her acting wings. And she dials it way down for “Hateship Loveship,” a romantic drama which finds her sharing the screen with Guy Pearce, Nick Nolte and Hailee Steinfeld.
Based on the short story by Alice Munro, and directed by Liza Johnson (“Return“), the film tells the story of the mousy Johanna (Wiig), who signs on to work for the elderly Mr. McCauley (Nolte), who needs a hand caring for his granddaughter Sabitha (Steinfeld), the offspring of his recovering junkie son-in-law Ken (Pearce). And so begins a layered look at a variety of relationships dealing with turmoils big and small, that gets further complicated when Sabitha plays a trick on Johanna to make her think Ken is romantically interested.
It’s complex stuff, but as we noted in our review out of TIFF last fall, “Johnson’s rigorous and formal approach doesn’t allow for any sparks, let alone fireworks” in a story that certainly contains a lot of them.
“Hateship Loveship” opens on VOD and in limited release on April 11th. Watch below.