Almost You

Erica (Adams) and Alex (Dunne) have reached a marital crisis, and when Erica breaks her hip, fickle, confused Alex finds himself attracted to her young nurse, Lisa. The tension is further aggravated by Lisa's actor-lover, whose fears impel him to introduce himself, incognito, to Alex with unexpected results. Brooks' first feature distinguishes itself from superficially similar romantic comedies by its tough, unsentimental tone. Though generous towards his characters' various anxieties and foibles, Brooks never shies away from their blinkered selfishness, or from the very real unhappiness caused by Alex's philandering ways. At the same time, the sense of pain is offset by often gorgeously observed comic moments. Assured and deliciously performed.