If I Were You [HD]

Largely Overlooked Type of Movie
I wasn't sure if I should rent this, but Marcia Gay Harden usually picks good scripts, so, I decided to rent this movie. And oh boy, I'm glad that I did. There is something very organic about the script. Marcia Gay's performance is *very* funny at times while honestly portrays the emotions of a compassionate and distraught middle-age career woman who is forced to re-evaluate her life and marriage after she finds out about her husband's love affair. This movie defies the typical Hollywood concept that love affairs and one night stand only belong to men of all ages and emotionally unstable young women, that young women cannot teach anything to wise middle age women, and deals with the reality of many that are clearly under-represtend in Hollywood movies.

Far-fetched and fun indie chick flick
My husband was out for the evening so thought I'd check out the new indie films for a high rated chick flick. This one fit the bill perfectly. It is a fun rather far-fetched story of a friendship that forms between the young lover of a married middle aged man and (unbeknownst to her) his wife. They both realize that they are making bad life choices for themselves so decide to try out letting the other make relationship and career choices from them ("If I were you..."). Despite the wife's initial motive of breaking up the relationship with "the other woman," she starts developing a genuine friendship with the younger woman, although of course is it based on lies and deceit. Both women get yanked out of their rut and comfort zone and begin recognizing and learning how to break out of self-destructive and self-limiting patterns. The focus is more on the development of the relationships rather than realism of storyline. All-and-all a perfect evening-alone (or with a best girlfriend) chick...

Strrong performances by Harden and Watling
This was a nice little movie that didn't try to be any more than it was. Marcia Gay Harden and Leonor Watling as the wife and mistress respectively were well matched for their roles.

Ms. Harden acts to save a young woman, Ms. Watling, who she rightly thinks is planning suicide. The cause of the young woman's unhappiness is that she was dumped by her lover who is a married man. Later when Ms. Harden finds out the man is her husband she continues her friendship with Ms. Watling without revealing what she knows. There are various comedic twists and turns leading to a satisfactory ending for the two women.

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