‘For Worse’ Review

By Nadia Dalimonte

Bradley Whitford and Amy Landecker in For Worse

The best dysfunctional rom-coms walk a fine line between cringeworthy and endearing, striking an effective balance of both worlds. Before making her directorial and screenwriting debut feature, For Worse, Amy Landecker appeared in plenty such rom-coms. In films such as Dan in Real Life and Enough Said, no matter the screen time, Landecker’s character acting has always been memorable. For Worse is a refreshing reminder of her compelling range, and a welcome introduction to her skills behind the camera. Landecker mines through the awkwardness of a midlife crisis to find a candid, character-driven portrait of turning over a new leaf. She brings emotional depth to a familiar premise, revealing how seemingly mismatched relationships can ultimately become mirrors of self-reflection, for better or for worse. While it occasionally loses steam in a rushed final act, For Worse excels on the strengths of insightful writing and a playful ensemble.  

Lauren (Landecker) used to be a good actress. Somewhere along the way of marriage and motherhood, she flipped her aspirations into a real estate career. But evidently, her acting talent never left. All she needed was the opportunity to find herself again. As Lauren’s adorable daughter Kim (Caroline Miller) echoes, “You have to be really clear with your intentions in order to manifest them.” After splitting up with Chase (Paul Adelstein), who has already moved on with a young influencer (Angelique Cabral), a newly divorced Lauren rediscovers herself and takes a leap of faith. She attends an acting class full of twenty-somethings led by the wonderfully deadpan Liz (Gaby Hoffman), who approaches television commercial material as though it were Shakespearean text. When Lauren stuns the class with a brilliantly performed monologue, she is welcomed into the cool kid club and tries her darnedest to keep up.
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Age-gap relationship dynamics play out between Lauren and fellow acting student, Sean (Nico Hiraga), a well-known heartthrob in his friend circles. Sean, who volunteers to be Lauren’s scene partner during a class, invites her to a late-night study session at his apartment. One line reading leads to another, and the two find a spark of chemistry. Lauren knows that this is simply a fling; nevertheless, she indulges in the thrill of a new connection. The characters’ “situationship” gives way to some humorous dialogue about young adulthood and generational quirks, like Sean’s roommate Dylan (Hannah Pilkes) explaining how owning your own phone charger signifies that you’re an adult. 
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Awkward banter and slapstick comedy ensue when Maria (Kiersey Clemons), another fellow acting student, invites the entire class to her wedding. The delightful femme bride/butch groom nuptials are part of a weekend celebration in Palm Springs, paid for by Maria’s mom Debbie (Enuka Okuma) and stepfather Chuck (Jay Lacopo). Lauren and Sean agree to attend the destination wedding as each other’s dates. He vows to stay by her side and calm her nerves about joining the party as a recent divorcee. Once in Palm Springs, however, he immediately ditches her to spend time with Maria’s bridesmaids. Coco (Claudia Sulewski) in particular catches Lauren’s attention as someone Sean might fancy, which creates a small wave of insecurity. 
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Lauren’s mature journey of self-discovery at the core of For Worse serves as an endearing reminder that coming-of-age is not reserved for young adults. We are never too old to evolve and flourish, whether romantically, professionally, or personally. With age comes perspective, and it allows for moments of vivid reflection on how the past shapes who we become. The film meets Lauren halfway with grace, letting her stumble messily through her emotions to reach a new chapter of life. In a standout scene during Maria’s wedding reception, Lauren’s feelings run wild when a significant element of the party is destroyed. Her vulnerability leads to an inevitable romantic spark with Maria’s dad Dave (Bradley Whitford), a fellow divorcee. 
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Landecker and Whitford, a married couple in real-life and former co-stars on the television series Transparent, share instant chemistry onscreen. Their magnetic pull is felt early on in the film, when Dave unassumingly walks in on Lauren having a hallucinatory personal moment in a bathroom. Landecker finds neat ways to incorporate Dave into the story as a Mr. Darcy-type character who carries a quiet intensity about him, but brings Lauren closer to a happy ending. The film has a brilliant ensemble who lean into cringe humour and genre cliches, and still bring a grounded energy to their characters. Ken Marino plays a creepy magician who sits next to Lauren at the wedding reception and attempts to charm his way into her life. Missi Pyle steals every scene as Lauren’s best friend, Julie, who brings light and joyful comedic timing. The actors are given space to be playful and present with one another.

For Worse doesn’t truly escape from rom-com cliches, nor does the direction add particularly creative visual language to the story. However, the film’s dynamic cast help to make the narrative feel lived-in and spontaneous. Their individual talents and overall chemistry make up for the lack of variety in camerawork. Most crucially, the screenplay works wonders as a strong foundation. To echo a line from Gaby Hoffman’s memorable character, Liz the acting teacher, “If you’re not serving the text, you’re serving your ego.” Landecker’s film takes this sentiment to heart and pours energy into crafting a charming exploration of post-divorce life. 

For Worse is now available to watch on VOD.