Film, Reviews
Mar 2, 2016

SALLY FIELD SHINES IN HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS

Hello, My Name is Doris, is a story about a hoarding woman who spends her entire life taking care of her ailing mother and living a non-existent life of her own.

Now in her sixty’s, Doris’s mother has passed and her friends and family struggle to help Doris get her life back in order. But it’s after falling in love with a young co-worker, John Fremont (Max Greenfield) that Doris finds herself in a new world of possibilities. Sally Field as Doris, reaches new levels with her quirky and honest portrayal of an eccentric woman in the midst of a life transition.
Sally Field

Micheal Showalter, Director and Screenwriter, created a complex character that highlighted what it’s like to have a youthful spirit, perhaps also a naive spirit at a latter point in life. The film’s direction was original and showed that even as we grow older, without experiences, we can still feel love and heartbreak for the very first time; even at sixty.

“What happens is that Doris falls in love for the first time and has to learn how to navigate romance,” says Showalter.  “She is somewhat stunted emotionally, which in a lot of ways makes this an archetypal coming-of-age story.”

Doris’s affection for John is as innocent as a school girl’s crush until jealousy towards his girlfriend Brooklyn (Beth Behrs) and mixed signals get in the way. And just like a school crush, there are awkward and ugly moments.

Sally Field and Max Greenfield’s on-screen chemistry was undeniably a perfect match, and their scenes together had you at the edge of your seat laughing at the awkwardness one feels when they are interacting with their crush.

“I couldn’t have played this part without someone as good and as solid as he is both comedically and dramatically,” said Field about working with Greenfield.

Sally Field brings Doris to life through her mannerisms, blunt language and unique clothing. Costume designer, Rebecca Gregg, worked closely with Fields to create Doris’s quirky look with a huge collection of items she collected from  thrift shops, old clothing houses and Goodwill.

“She created a roomful, rack after rack of old clothes. Most of it was disgusting,” laughed Fields, “I would just try on things and she {Doris} started to emerge.”

Overall, Hello, My Name is Doris really highlights different levels Sally Fields can hit and the comedic tone of the film fits perfectly with the cast, it’s a colorful adventure that proves life starts at the end of your comfort zone.
 
Hello, My Name is Doris stars two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field (Norma Rae, Places in the Heart), Max Greenfield (“New Girl”), Beth Behrs (” 2 Broke Girls”), Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids, “The Goldbergs”), Stephen Root (Selma), Elizabeth Reaser ( The Twilight Saga, ” Mad Men”), Natasha Lyonne (“Orange Is the New Black”), Tyne Daly (“Judging Amy”), Peter Gallagher (American Beauty), and Isabela Acres (“Sofia the First”).

Hello, My Name is Doris is out in theaters March 11, 2016.