“Prime” Directed by: Ben Younger Starring: Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep and Bryan Greenberg MPAA rating: PG-13 (for adult language, some sexual themes and dialogue) Running time: 104 minutes Best suited for: The adult-oriented, sophisticated relationship fan Least suited for: The predictable TV-sitcom-type romantic comedy fan Acorn’s Rating Guide:
Rafael Gardet is a successful, 37-year-old uptown New Yorker struggling to cope after a loveless nine-year marriage. Lisa Metzger is her tolerant therapist, urging Rafi to love again, to begin living life to its fullest. David Bloomberg is a 23-year-old struggling artist with an overbearing mother, brooding about his own selfworth. When Rafi (Uma Thurman) and David (Bryan Greenberg) chance to meet one evening, despite their age and social differences (she has bucks, he doesn’t), sparks ignite. And despite their better judgments, they begin to fall for each other.
If you’ve seen the theatrical trailers for “Prime,” then you already know the exquisite glue that binds the three main players together. But if you haven’t, the less you know about the plot structure the better, so I’ll attempt to delicately dance around story and talk about texture.
Because, as textures go, “Prime” is a pretty good film. Even if the topic isn’t a particularly new one, it’s path is distinctly a road less traveled. (“Shopgirl” is also new in theaters this week, another such agegap romance—although Steve Martin’s much older male character playing opposite Claire Danes doesn’t raise many eyebrows.)
If “Prime’s” only concern were about age, it would be an altogether different film—and, frankly, a less satisfying one. But David’s devoutly Jewish family frowns on his dating outside his faith. And despite his youthful devotion to Rafi, David’s still playing Nintendo and jaunting off to all-night downtown raves. He’s somewhat socially naïve, and his and Rafi’s biological differences (aside from those in bed, as Rafi’s therapist is quick to point out) are complex enough that neither can dismiss their presence.
If you’ve seen the trailers, you’re also probably expecting a raucous romantic comedy about love triumphing over those apparently ancient prejudices of age and religion and social order. But what you’ll discover is a surprisingly atypical, sophisticated comedic drama about relationships and why, sometimes, such things do matter. Recent rom-com efforts like “Garden State,” “A Lot Like Love” and even the abysmal “Broken Flowers” dish up healthy doses of pain with their comedic intent. Sometimes love hurts.
What raises “Prime” above the norm is its lack of sitcom-like predictability. Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Uma Thurman’s shrink may provide much of the film’s funnier moments, but the story solidly belongs to David and Rafael, both characters so richly drawn and textured that you begin to understand why they believe their differences might be overcome.
This is a playful movie, but it’s also a truthful one, and writer/director Ben Younger has provided each character with subtle wit and charm and charisma. Where the film rings truest, it satisfies the most.
There may be a few coincidental encounters that seem contrived, a few moments (centered around David’s faith) that might feel like schmaltz, but these are easily forgiven. Unless you’re fiddling on a roof, Judaism in film (like Italian Catholicism) should be worn like an expensive perfume: the more subliminal its presence the better. “Prime” wears this aura reasonably well— there are a few Manischewitz jokes, a mother’s expressive pining, but otherwise nothing too distracting. (The best scented film of which I’m aware was 1988’s insanely cute, unobtrusively Jewish “Crossing Delancey.”)
“Prime” doesn’t push its religious pretension so much as hang it over David and Rafi’s heads like an impending storm cloud. Buthrow in the 15-year age gap and their different rungs on the socialadder, and you begin to perceive the downpour that may be in store for them. It’s in the shadow of such a deluge that “Prime” so nicely shines.
In a nutshell: “Prime” is a distinctly adult, sophisticated look at love blooming despite the odds and some potentially dire consequences. David and Rafael’s story is a bittersweet, richly textured tale about the nuance of love’s ebb and flow.
