Director: James Ponsoldt
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally
A married couple run into trouble when their mutual love of alcohol is broken by one of them wanting to become sober.
Smashed is a decent film that takes a look at the recovery process and how it can cause an upheaval in every aspect of life. Kate is a primary school teacher who ends up throwing up in front of her class because of a hangover, while her husband was born to a rich family. They spend their spare time getting high and drunk, until she has enough and tries to get better.
Initially she’s met with ridicule and skepticism from him and their mutual friends, and it shows how tough it can be to break free of the demons.
Winstead does a good job of anchoring the film, and for the most part it’s good, although sometimes I think the offbeat nature comes out of left field. Offerman’s character, for example, at one point propositions her and it’s done in a way that seems unrealistic and, frankly, so creepy that I can’t imagine how anyone could think it was a good idea. Little scenes like these don’t feel authentic, and they take away from the overall experience.
It’s not one that I’d say you must watch, especially when compared with the film I reviewed yesterday, Thanks for Sharing, but Smashed is decent.
