"Humor Me" will humor you — and then some. It's one of the best films of its kind, along with Albert Brooks' "Mother" and "In Her Shoes," in which a floundering adult gets back on track with help from a senior-age parent (or grandparent). If writer-director Sam Hoffman's charming, well-performed tale feels at all familiar, it's territory worth revisiting. - Los Angeles Times
A once-acclaimed New York playwright, NATE (Jemaine Clement), is struggling to finish his new play when his wife (Maria Dizzia) leaves him, taking their son. Desolate, broke and unable to pay the rent, Nate begrudgingly moves in with his widowed father, BOB (Elliott Gould), in his New Jersey retirement golf community.
Bob, always quick with a joke, uses humor to deal with all of life's challenges, even the death of his beloved wife. It drives Nate crazy.
Thinking his son could benefit from some discipline, Bob sends Nate to work for ELLIS (Willie Carpenter) an older ex-Marine who runs operations at the community. While at work, Nate stumbles on a senior citizen theater troupe staging a musical. Nate agrees to help but quickly realizes it won't be easy to get these quirky women to cooperate. And one of them, DEE (Annie Potts) even invites him to dinner to not-so-subtly set him up with her daughter, ALLISON (Ingrid Michaelson).
Things reach a breaking point when a video of Nate's earlier play surfaces, opening old wounds between him and Bob. Ultimately, the father and son realize they each have their own forms of storytelling and come to appreciate their differences.
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reviews
“Humor Me will humor you — and then some. It’s one of the best films of its kind, along with Albert Brooks’ Mother and In Her Shoes, in which a floundering adult gets back on track with help from a senior-age parent (or grandparent). … smart, warm and authentic thanks to Clement’s enjoyably hangdog turn and Hoffman’s wonderfully incisive script.” – Los Angeles Times
A stellar cast including Annie Potts and Bebe Neuwirth … Mr. Clement works wonders with a deadpan expression.” – The New York Times
“Heartwarming family comedy [that] taps into some complicated topics in a playful and poignant way.” –Parade
“Humor Me is a feel-good charmer.” – EW
“Comic comfort food, ably brought off by Jemaine Clement and especially Elliott Gould.” –Movie Nation
“Gould’s comedic timing is perfection.” – Behind the Lens
“Clement makes a winsome sad sack hero.” – The Hollywood Reporter
“A touching family story. … Gould is masterful.” –Tribune News Service
“Humor Me is a valentine to literal Dad jokes. … It’s a cute movie.” –Flavorwire
“A hilarious comedy worthy of the big screen.” –MoveableFeast
“A warm, witty response to dark times.” –Hollywood in Toto