Taglines: The problem every man dreams of… a choice.
Colin Ware (played by Colin Firth) arrives in the most hopeful sounding town he can find to forget his old life. Hotel managers: Joanie Fisher (Mary Steenburgen) and Mr. Fisher (Frank Collison, also seen in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?) are worried about the despondent guest, and ask therapist, Mandy (played by Heather Graham) to come talk to him. The two young people soon become enraptured with one another.
Colin’s ex-fiance (and reason for his despondency), played by Minnie Driver arrives and tries unsuccessfully to get the hotel managers to tell her where he is staying. Complications ensue when Driver convinces Graham that she is still part of Colin’s life. Colin must take drastic action, and enlists the help of the mayor, Doug Reed (Oliver Platt).
Hope Springs is a 2003 romantic-comedy film, based on the novel New Cardiff, by Charles Webb, known for his novel The Graduate. Starring are Colin Firth, Heather Graham, Minnie Driver, Mary Steenburgen, Frank Collison, Oliver Platt, Mary Black, Ken Kramer, Chad Faust, Tony Alcantar and Bethoe Shirkoff.
Film Review for Hope Springs
Charles Webb remains best known for his 1962 debut novel “The Graduate”, famously filmed in 1967 with Dustin Hoffman. He has not exactly been prolific since, but the proceeds from this adaptation of his 2001 book “New Cardiff” – his first in 25 years – will no doubt make his reclusive life in Brighton a little bit more comfortable.
Named after the picturesque New England town in which it’s set (“18,459 people live in Hope” reads a sign), “Hope Springs” tells of an English illustrator called Colin (Colin Firth) who – heartbroken at being dumped by his fiancée Vera (Minnie Driver) – heads to America to start again.
Colin’s matchmaking landlady Joanie (Mary Steenburgen) introduces him to “trained care-giver” Mandy (Heather Graham), who soon breaks through his English reserve with a combination of vivacity, nudity, and alcohol. But when Vera arrives requesting a reconciliation, he is forced to make a difficult decision.
It’s a dilemma most warm-blooded men would kill to face – horny Heather or Minnie the Minx? – and the love triangle throws up some amusing situations that compensate for the numerous lapses in logic and pacing. Firth’s character may be something of a pill to begin with, but once he lightens up, he emerges as a deft and affable leading man.
It’s also good to see supporting roles filled by such reliable talents as Steenburgen and Oliver Platt, a hoot as Hope’s venal mayor. All in all, a date movie that’s well worth making a date with.
Hope Springs (2003)
Directed by: Mark Herman
Starring: Colin Firth, Heather Graham, Minnie Driver, Mary Steenburgen, Frank Collison, Oliver Platt, Mary Black, Ken Kramer, Chad Faust, Tony Alcantar, Bethoe Shirkoff
Screenplay by: Mark Herman
Production Design by: Don Taylor
Cinematography by: Ashley Rowe
Film Editing by: Michael Ellis
Costume Design by: Trish Keating
Set Decoration by: Johanne Hubert
Art Direction by: Kelvin Humenny
Music by: John Altman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and language.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: September 5, 2003
Visits: 37
