Told through the eyes of a woman who has only known betrayal, Then She Found Me is a heartwarming story that will consume your soul and have you caught by the heartstrings, unable to breathe until the last actions have been taken. And with the brilliant direction and acting of Academy Award winner Helen Hunt, the film propels far beyond expectations, hitting on all accounts and creating a sparkle in the eyes of all who watch.
Put up for adoption soon after her birth, April has battled a constant theme of betrayal in her life. And when her husband leaves her and her mother passes within a forty eight hour period, there seems to be no end to the unforgiving hardships. But about the time that April is ready to throw in the towel, she is told that her birth mother, famed-out TV personality Bernice, wants to build the relationship that they should have had. Feeling bombarded, April turns to Frank in order to reassert some order to her hectic and heartbreaking life.
If there is one thing that this film does perfectly, it is its creation of a raw and realistic atmosphere. From the down played beauty of April to the selfish and brassy Bernice (played by Bette Midler), every character and every scene captures the beauty for what it is. Because of this, the film carries a heap of truth and conviction, both coming together to sell the story for what it is, not what it isn't.
Helen Hunt, who hasn't challenged herself since her 1998 Academy Award win for As Good As It Gets, gives an Oscar-worthy performance as April. Creating a feeling of uncertainty and hesitation, Hunt is able to bring April to life, forming a bond between her and the audience and ultimately bring the two sides together. Her approach is perfect as she finally gives a performance that not only matches but excels beyond that of her performance opposite Jack Nicholson.
In addition, Hunt had some excellent supporting character to help balance the emotional load that this film presents to its viewers.
Bette Midler plays April's birth mother Bernice. Guilty for what she has done in the past, Bernice is destined to reunite with her daughter, creating a whirlwind of emotions for both the characters on screen and the viewers in the audience. Her delivery and personification not only create a character that we all believe to be true, but one that would easily stir the frustration and animosity that April feels throughout the film's entirety. Her performance is dead on and helps make this fostering relationship seem real and uncensored.
But then you have the two male roles of April's ex-husband Ben and her current love interest Frank, played by the talented Matthew Broderick and Colin Firth respectively. And while both roles are meant to be secondary, they are actually brought to the limelight as they each play a vital role in whom April is and who she becomes throughout the time of the film. And while Broderick plays one of the two 'evil' roles in the film, I have to give him credit, as he successfully creates a character that is personally hurting April without the slightest realization. His actions are all too familiar as he sends April on a roller coaster ride of emotions; bringing her up and down at his will and ultimately reminding every woman in the audience of "the man who you would do anything they said."
On the other hand, I have to give Firth credit for supplementing Hunt throughout the entire film. Taking on the task of forgiver, Firth's character Frank is one of deep proportions. Having children of his own, Frank presents the life that April wants, the life that she has longed for for so many years. And though he possesses this life, he has a hard time realizing the longing that April has to join him. And it is through this lack of recognition that helps bring the two together. No matter their differences, Frank has a loving heart, one that is so open that it often scares April into making the wrong choice.
And as the story progresses, it is hard to grasp the fact that the characters have made so much yet so little progress to becoming the person that they each are longing to be. And then you sit back and realize that that is life. Progress is never guaranteed, endings are not always happy and the thing that makes this film a must see are the parallels that this film creates to real life. And though it is somewhat shocking at how dead-on the film is, it is ultimately a warm welcoming as you get to realize that we are all in this one together, and for some reason you can leave the theater in peace believing that small fact.
