Radio Starnet http://yaycos.com/radio/radio6.htmlBy Kirk Honeycutt
Bottom line: A prime example of a solid romantic comedy Ben Younger, who made a smashing writing and directing feature debut five years ago with a character-driven drama about stock market scams called "Boiler Room," makes a welcome return with "Prime," which shows him equally adept at romantic comedy. This is a very specific kind of romantic comedy, though -- it's New York-based and somewhat Jewish with characters that are all professional or at least upwardly mobile and interested in the arts and culture. A moment here and there may remind you of Woody Allen's better comedies, but Younger has put his own stamp on this familiar territory.As with "Boiler Room," Younger has recruited a terrific cast toplined by Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep and a handsome young actor with star potential in Bryan Greenberg. Younger might have come up with a better title, for "Prime" is too easily confused with "Proof" or the Sundance-winning "Primer." Universal Pictures will certainly have to sell this one as the audience will mostly be older than 25. The best thing "Prime" has going for it is the paucity of solid romantic comedies with strong, believable characters.The reason for the title stems from a remark made by Streep's character, an Upper West Side therapist named Lisa Metzger, when a patient, a recently divorced 37-year-old career woman, tells her she is dating a much younger man. This, Lisa remarks, works out well, for they both are in their sexual prime.The patient, Rafi (Thurman), nevertheless worries about how to build a realistic relationship with Dave (Greenberg), a 23-year-old painter who lives with his grandparents in Brooklyn. All she knows is she is having terrific fun in and out of the sack with this guy."This sounds really good," Lisa declares in response to her patient's enthusiasm. Lisa gives the opposite reaction, though, to her son when he announces that he is dating a non-Jew. Lisa has nothing against shiksas but certainly doesn't want her son to turn his back on his heritage by marrying one. So what's the point of dating her?A warning here: Many audience members might anticipate the film's key plot twist. But if you want to experience that surprise -- which happens early -- then skip the next paragraph.Yes, Rafi's Dave is Lisa's son. When details of their relationship make that perfectly clear to Lisa, her attempt to calm down following the session is a classic comedy scene. That Lisa would continue to treat Rafi rather than level with her for as long as she does is implausible. But this does lead to a second classic scene in which Rafi's description of the intimate details of her lovemaking with Dave causes Lisa to squirm in ways human bodies seldom do.OK, if you've rejoined this review after skipping the last paragraph, let's consider the praiseworthy ways that the writer-director handles the development of his characters and their relationships. Younger nicely avoids anything that would be obvious or cliched. He makes a great running gag out of Dave's memories of his bigoted Bubbie. And he wisely lets the central romantic relationship evolve in small moments rather than overblown situations or scenes.He also deals honestly with issues that do derive from an older woman/much younger man scenario. No sugarcoating here. It is this issue, and not any outside sources, that eventually troubles the romance.Thurman has never looked lovelier, and she plays her scenes with the therapist and boyfriend with disarming naturalness and simplicity. Streep really should do comedy more often because she is so good at it. Greenberg is a real find, a young actor whose good looks and organic acting work well in all the story's dramatic and comic situations."Prime" is a first-class production from producers Jennifer and Suzanne Todd, who also produced "Boiler Room." Cinematographer William Rexer and designer Mark Ricker give the two New York boroughs a genuinely romantic glow, while a soundtrack of old/new music provides a lively background.
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