The most important aspect of 'Prime' is its previews do it little justice. Until the movie is actually viewed, Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman seem an unlikely pair, Bryan Greenberg is just that hot guy from 'One Tree Hill,' and the plot appears so shamefully predictable that lovers of the chick flick all over the country could predict the ending in the first 10 minutes.
A poor trailer makes it possible that nobody will want to see this movie, but 'Prime' is, surprisingly quite good.
In the league of 'In Good Company,' 'Prime' takes risks and makes choices that are unlikely for the traditional romantic comedy. Ben Younger, the little-known director of 'Boiler Room,' puts together a diverse cast of talent, some new, some old, and makes a hilarious portrait of the improbable love story between a 37-year-old woman and a 23-year-old guy.
Thurman plays Rafi, a recent divorcee seeking psychiatric help from Streep's Lisa Metzger. Rafi is 37 and has just ended a nine-year marriage of little satisfaction, and David Bloomberg (Bryan Greenberg) is the younger guy with whom she finds an almost perfect kind of love.
Aside from the fact that Rafi is 14 years his senior, and David's mother turns out to be (gasp!) Lisa Metzger herself, the two would have absolutely no problem living happily ever after. Unfortunately, Rafi is not only too old for David, but she also fails to be Jewish, and that makes Lisa's blood boil even more.
Thurman and Greenberg have the kind of chemistry that makes one wish they were dating in real life. The relationship is vulnerable and full of swoons, romantic dinners by candlelight and laughter. Streep is so brilliant, it seems like she just had an endless amount of fun while making the film. Yet, she is so convincing and steals the screen so effectively, that most of 'Prime's' laughs end up being induced by Streep herself.
'Prime' is full of the subtle, realistic comedy that comes in every day human life. Even in such an odd situation, the scenes and interactions between the characters seem remarkably real. Younger's unique style gives the movie an indie-esque quality. 'Prime' is full of randomness, and it doesn't follow any rules as far as both plot and camera work are concerned. Some of the scenes are so unorthodox that it feels like Younger intentionally left in several outtakes. Scenes like these give 'Prime' a very unique feel.
The movie is by no means a perfect feat of filmmaking. It gets off to a slow start, and it is a matter of preference as to whether the constantly picturesque relationship, or the sometimes cheesy romantic dialogue is too much.
However, 'Prime' finds itself at a very tangible point somewhere in the middle of the film, and even though it may take a while to get there, it is worth it in the end. It is realistic and oddly ambiguous when it comes to the conclusion, which is the very first thing that will separate 'Prime' from other romantic comedies.
