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Hello, My Name is Doris  (DVD)

6/10

Stars: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Tyne Daly, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Stephen Root, Peter Gallagher, Beth Behrs, Elizabeth Reaser, Natasha Lyonne, Isabella Acres, Caroline Aaron

Director: Michael Showalter

You might think from the title that this is about a woman battling alcoholism, but it's much lighter than that, albeit with serious undertones. Doris (the stilll adorable Field) is a bookkeeper just into her sixties who is overcome by a crush on her hunky new boss (Greenfield) who's a good 30 years younger.

Unfortunately, Doris lives in a hoarders' paradise, dresses like Helena Bonham Carter on a bad day and has a ditzy personality hardly likely to turn to men on sexual attraction. But still, she and the boss connect...in a way...

Her raucous friend (Daly) is no help, but a self-help guru (Gallagher) gives Doris (named after Doris Day) a push in the right direction. The screenplay has some funny lines, some rude, some not so rude, and the mercurial Field, even in early old age, retains the ability to keep you on her side throughout.

The film itself offers a few touching and perceptive moments, but is a shade too formulaic for its own good.

David Quinlan

USA 2016. UK Distributor: Roadside Attractions. Colour.
91 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 15 Jun 2016