Prime, released in theaters on October 28, 2005, is a sharp, character-driven romantic dramedy built around emotional honesty and comic discomfort. The film uses a blend of therapy, generational friction, and cultural differences to examine how love—or the hope for it—shakes up the boundaries we draw for ourselves and those we love.
The story follows Rafi Gardet (Uma Thurman), a recently divorced, thirty-seven-year-old New Yorker eager to rediscover joy and meaning in her life. Into her path walks David Bloomberg (Bryan Greenberg), a twenty-three-year-old aspiring painter whose youthful optimism proves infectious.
The two fall for each other, despite their 14-year age gap.
Rafi pours her heart out to her trusted therapist, Dr. Lisa Metzger (Meryl Streep), who provides support—until she realizes, with mounting horror, that her patient is dating her own son.
What began as a hypothetical case becomes an excruciating personal dilemma: Lisa must counsel Rafi while grappling with the reality that every intimate detail Rafi shares reflects on her son, her family, and herself.
As Rafi and David navigate dating, questioning their future, and worrying about life stages, Lisa alternates between professional obligation and maternal protectiveness.
The film mines cringeworthy laughs and genuine pathos from scenes where Lisa learns far more about her son’s sex life than she ever desired, and from Rafi’s honest attempts to process cultural and family differences.
David’s friend Morris (Jon Abrahams) add comic texture to the lovers’ struggle, while Lisa’s own therapist and extended family underscore the chaos of mixing boundaries with real feelings.
Thurman radiates fragility and strength, Greenberg is charming and earnest, and Streep anchors the film as a hilarious, nuanced matriarch caught between roles.
John Rothman, Annie Parisse, and Jerry Adler round out the cast.
The ending defies rom-com convention, focusing instead on growth and bittersweet acceptance rather than perfect resolution.
Ben Younger (Boiler Room) wrote and directed the film.
Bryan Greenberg and Uma Thurman in Prime (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for Prime
Prime grossed $6.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office.
The film would gross $67.9 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Prime received mixed reviews upon release, praised for its performances but critiqued for contrived plotting.
Over time, its legacy has grown, finding a niche audience that appreciates romantic comedies with psychological bite and the messiness of real-life family entanglements.
In particular, Streep’s comedic work stands out as one of the sharpest in her career, showing the inner conflict between professional detachment and maternal investment.
Prime resonates for viewers seeking adult romance that is as funny as it is honest—reminding us that love teaches lessons therapists might never anticipate.
