If you hadn’t seen “Suze” before, you might mistake it for an undiscovered Nicole Holofcener film receiving recognition. The film shares the same realistic touch and consistently humorous elements that make Holofcener’s work resonate so strongly and keep viewers coming back. In essence, “Suze” is a thoughtful and engaging movie that offers a blend of happiness and sadness, much like how life often intertwines laughter with tears. This film is a comforting watch, where the ups and downs mirror the complexities of our lives in a relatable way.
The film’s underlying theme is strongly established from the start, as the soothing sounds of a contented couple making love fill the dark screen, only to be replaced by the distressed expression of Susan (superbly portrayed by Michaela Watkins), who unexpectedly encounters her husband Alan (Sandy Jobin-Bevans) in an adulterous situation with his golf instructor Jacinta (Sorika Wolf). It’s hard to decide which is more damaging: the infidelity itself, or the heartrending “I love you” declarations that suggest Susan’s marriage has reached its end.
Five years have passed, and as a proud single mom, I’m gearing up for my spirited daughter Brooke’s (Sara Waisglass) high school graduation. Brooke is off to college, which makes me feel a bit unsettled. Making our already fleeting time together more challenging is the frequent visitor we have, Gage (the charming Charlie Gillespie, a hidden gem in this movie), who happens to be Brooke’s goofy, upbeat boyfriend. Despite my corrections, he persistently calls me “Suze” and often behaves like an oversized infant.
In other words, I’m preparing for my daughter’s high school graduation, which has her heading off to college. This change doesn’t sit well with me, and our limited time together is complicated by the frequent presence of Gage, Brooke’s cheerful boyfriend who insists on calling me “Suze” against my wishes, and often acts like a child in an adult’s body.
In a heartfelt and insightful manner, Clark and Stewart weave intriguing insights about the minds of this humble community throughout their narrative. Susan, finding herself at the start of a new phase as a peri-menopausal woman with a college-aged daughter and a mundane mid-level job, is unquestionably an affectionate mother. However, she occasionally leans towards being overly dependent, causing you to ponder if anyone has recently asked her about her personal aspirations in life. Watkins gently illustrates Susan as a woman approaching her fifties, trapped in a monotonous routine, stirring curiosity about whether she’s ever been asked about her own desires.
In my perspective as a movie critic, the character Brooke subtly yet decisively unveils her self-absorbed nature throughout the film. She skillfully maneuvers her mother and exploits Gage’s kindness, revealing an uncanny selfishness that even those closest to her seem to sense. Interestingly, while everyone but her mother anticipates Brooke’s move to Montreal for college, she persists with a plan they had previously discussed otherwise. The pain that Susan feels, however, is not merely about losing her daughter, but the heartache of being kept in the dark by the person she thought was her confidante, and the humiliation inflicted upon her in front of Alan and Jacinta, who are now married and privy to Brooke’s secret plans.
In this movie, Watkins masterfully guides Susan through her challenging path, cleverly intertwining it with the heartfelt tune “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette (interestingly, a cover version is used in the film). However, what truly stands out about “Suze” is Gillespie and his exceptional portrayal of the overzealous character, Gage. Initially, Gage appears as an upbeat underachiever, bordering on being a failure, and not someone Susan would want for her daughter. But in less skilled hands, this character could have turned into a comical stereotype. Instead, Gillespie breathes life into Gage, transforming him from a potential caricature into a more complex individual. There’s a raw sincerity in Gillespie’s portrayal that hints at underlying sadness behind his excessive joy, and beneath the annoying excess of his persona, there’s an endearing sweetness that disarms you.
As a film enthusiast, it’s no surprise that the hapless duo, Suze and Gage, both left high and dry by Brooke, would unexpectedly forge an accidental friendship and alliance. However, directors Clark and Stewart surprise us with their unique take on this storyline, pushing aside the sugar-coated moments to focus on grittier themes like mental health struggles, parental neglect, the evolution of femininity, and the importance of chosen families during tough times. In this journey, we encounter Gage’s indifferent parents and an unforeseen romantic interest for Suze. These characters serve to strengthen the unique bond between Gage and Suze in a heartless world filled with careless individuals.
The movie “Suze” primarily focuses on individuals who are worthy of more than what they’ve been given by those who made them question their value. There isn’t a grand finale surprise, but rather an emphasis that each of us carries the power to aid in the healing and development of others. This message seems particularly relevant and uplifting in today’s times.
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2025-02-07 16:16