This movie was based on the short story 'Hateship, Friensdhip, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage' which won the Noble prize in literature a decade ago. A pure drama about a middle aged single woman whose life was dedicated to her profession. Just like similar to the 'Finding Vivian Maier', except there was no photographies involved. Frankly, I was not predicted that this film would impress me a lot. Picked it to watch without an interest, but while a watch surprised and glued to my seat to the rest of the film.

Even though there were fine actors in the movie like Guy Pearce and latest sensation Hailee Steinfield, it was a Kristen Wiig show. Apart from voice-over for the animations and other supporting roles, she was not seen in a top form recently. Her commitment to the character she played as Johanna Perry the live-in caretaker in the movie was inevitable to appreciate. Feels very real who fall for a teenagers prank that actually influence her life to turn it around. So how and what are the things to be done against the odds are displayed well.

''The only thing worse than friendship is hateship.''

Kind of 'second chance' theme, if you get one you must seize it. Though, it was not that simple in the movie, but developed at a fair dosage of obstacles between 'the desperate' and 'the hope' to form balanced account. Don't consider it an inspirational, it was just pieces of common event that's happening everywhere, but creatively put into the texts and then cinematic. Commercializable title that did not suit for a realistic narration. Especially not in todays world, might have been a perfect title 20-25 years ago. Once you watch it the perspective will change that still movie like this are made for the silver screen, not direct-to-television, but what? Sadly commercially fails.

If you observe closely the end scene, it was very practical to the real life. Whether we accept our fate as it happened or we created it, the flaws always remain, especially in a relationship. That's what the entire movie unfolds, how people cope with each other despite what they were before. A very well told simple story. Of course it was a slow narration, not because of the stretched from a short story, but to give the depth in the portrayal. This movie is for ardent drama fans like me, for a change others as well should try this little sweet movie.

8/10

Kristen Wiig stars as Johanna Parry and she's a very, very, very emotionally stunted woman. In fact, she's so withdrawn and displays so little emotion that you could swear at first that this might be a zombie film. Now I do not blame her entirely for this sort of cold and disconnected performance, as the director obviously must have been looking for this. And, this sort of character might have worked had the film been more coherent and had a discernible message, though I could detect little of either.

Johanna is a live-in caretaker. When the film begins, the old woman she's been caring for dies and Johanna now is moving on to another assignment. This time, she's to care for a teenage girl and her grandfather (Nick Nolte). Soon she sees that there is some strange baggage with the family, as the teen's father, Ken (Guy Pearce) is not living with them. Slowly she learns this is because Ken is an addict and was responsible for his wife's death-and went to prison because of this. He's now on probation* and is clearly a very messed up guy and he shows many indications that he's still abusing drugs.

For kicks, the daughter and her very nasty friend decide to create a fake boyfriend for Johanna-sending her emails that are supposedly from a love-struck Ken. Very quickly Johanna falls for him and begins writing him regularly. She also appears to be coming out of her emotional shell. Now she begins planning for a life with a man who barely knows her-though she now thinks that he does.

So far, all that has happened in the movie is pretty interesting and the picture pulls you into this world-even if Wiig's performance is WAY too understated. However, so much of what follows simply makes little sense. Johanna decides to empty her bank account and ship furniture to Ken-and this second part might get her arrested because the grandfather claims it's his and she takes it from his home. She then shows up unannounced at Ken's and just hangs out there. After a while, she realizes that he has NOT been sending her letters and it's all a sick jokeyet she stays! Soon, he's stealing her money to support his drug habit and she seems content to live with him. By the end of the film, there are both indications that the relationship might be working out (though WHY is beyond me) but there are also indications he's still using drugs. If this ending sounds unsatisfying and vague, you are definitely correct.

It's probably good that Influx asked me to review this one-not only because I love reviewing films but because I am a retired psychotherapist and used to work in a drug treatment center. So much of what occurs in HateshipmLoveship seems inappropriate and ridiculous. While there are codependent women who might latch onto an addict with fairytale dreams that it will all work out, not showing a realistic ending seems inexplicable. Instead, there's a strong message that it might just work out fine for this couple-when this is a very dim possibility. Plus, I'd hate to see anyone internalizing this stupid message-sort of like the old song "Stand By Your Man". In other words, if you just love someone enough, everything will somehow work itself out in life!

*By the way, if a person has gotten out of jail early, they have a PAROLE officer, not a probation officer. Probation officers are employed when a person has been found guilty of a crime but did not get sent to prison. The drug program where I worked was for folks on parole and probation, so I understand the difference between the two.

Johanna Parry (Kristen Wiig) is a meek home care giver. After her elderly client dies, she starts a new job taking care of Mr. McCauley (Nick Nolte) and his granddaughter Sabitha (Hailee Steinfeld). Sabitha's estranged father is Ken (Guy Pearce) who lives in Chicago. After going home, he leaves a friendly note to Johanna. When she writes a reply, Sabitha and her friend Edith (Sami Gayle) come up with a catfish scheme to trick Johanna. Ken has no idea and he has an addicted life with girlfriend Chloe (Jennifer Jason Leigh).

The pacing is slow with the quiet performance from Kristen Wiig. It's a subtle character that may be too subtle. The scheme is painful to watch at times because of the grinding pace. The correspondence scenes with Kristen Wiig are not the most compelling. The girls probably have a more compelling story. Their relationship has a lot of possible conflicts. In many ways, Johanna is just a prop for the girls. Then midway in the movie, Joanna takes a journey. At least there is some human interactions, and the movie improves.

There is some good human drama to be had in this movie. Hailee Steinfeld does put in a good performance. The father-daughter-grandfather relationship should be the better emotional material to mine in this story. Kristen Wiig should be more the catalyst. However it does improve enough to recommend.