Hope Springs, released on August 8, 2012, is a thoughtful and often humorous look at the challenges of a long-term marriage.
The film centers on Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold Soames (Tommy Lee Jones), a couple who have been married for over thirty years. Their relationship has settled into a comfortable, but passionless, routine. Arnold is content with his predictable life, while Kay feels increasingly disconnected and longs for the intimacy they once shared.
Desperate to reignite the spark, she takes a bold step: she books them a week-long intensive counseling session with Dr. Bernie Feld (Steve Carell) in the small town of Hope Springs, Maine.
The film’s plot unfolds as the couple reluctantly attends their daily therapy sessions, where they are forced to confront the deep-seated issues that have driven them apart.
Streep and Jones deliver nuanced, believable performances, capturing the awkwardness, frustration, and underlying love that exists between Kay and Arnold.
The scenes with Carell, playing the earnest and patient therapist, are particularly effective, providing moments of both emotional catharsis and well-timed comedy.
Jean Smart, Elisabeth Shue, and Mimi Rogers round out the supporting cast.
David Frankel, who’d previously helmed The Devil Wears Prada also starring Streep, directed the film.
Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep in Hope Springs (Photo/Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Reception for Hope Springs
Hope Springs grossed $14.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 4 at the box office.
The film would gross $114.3 million worldwide.
Legacy
Hope Springs‘s legacy is its refreshingly honest and relatable take on marriage, a theme often simplified in mainstream cinema. Instead of relying on broad romantic clichés, it provides an intimate and often uncomfortable look at the work required to sustain a relationship over decades.
The film was well-received by critics, with Streep and Jones earning particular praise for their performances. Its box office success demonstrated that there was a significant audience for a mature, character-driven comedy-drama.
It remains a standout example of a film that tackles a serious subject with sensitivity and humor, leaving a lasting impression as a testament to enduring love and the courage it takes to fight for it.
