3507. Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015)

Starring: Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs

Director: Michael Showalter

Running Time: 90 mins

Hello, My Name Is Doris is an American film about a sixty-something woman who, after the death of her mother, embarks on a new lease of life, and falls in love with a much younger co-worker of hers.

A genuinely delightful watch throughout, Hello, My Name Is Doris counts on an effortlessly lovable lead performance from Sally Field as it tells a sweet, genuine coming-of-age tale, bolstered by quirky humour and impressive emotional resonance throughout.

In all truth, there’s very little that separates Hello, My Name Is Doris from your typical high school coming-of-age movie. An outsider (Sally Field) begins to grow in confidence, and soon finds herself spending time with the equivalent ‘jock’ of the office (Max Greenfield), who she has a crush on.

The only thing that really separates this film is the age gap, but Sally Field’s performance is a fascinating blend of sweet innocence and a stronger maturity that you don’t get in coming-of-age films that focus on younger characters.

While Doris is far from the most stable person on the planet, her story of falling in love isn’t one of totally blind infatuation, as she also begins to hang onto her crush on her co-worker as the last thing she has to enjoy in life after her mother’s death.

That brings with it some sobering emotional depth, but it also allows her character to be a lot more free and bold than you’d ever expect a high schooler with a crush to be, as this scenario presents itself as a kind of last-chance saloon for Doris.

However, the film isn’t quite as desperate as that may sound, as it’s also an uplifting tale of a woman coming out of her shell and seeing life from a completely different angle. There are no excessive melodramatics at play here, and every character welcomes and responds to her in a realistic and above all kind-hearted way.

That makes Hello, My Name Is Doris a genuinely delightful watch throughout, bolstered by moments of quirky humour and an element of sweet, innocent nostalgia that cleverly juxtaposes with the film’s more mature main character.

Overall, then, I had a lovely time with this movie. It’s a sweet, heartfelt story which will make you smile and giggle, and features more layers than your average coming-of-age love story. With a winning performance from Sally Field, Hello, My Name Is Doris is a really charming watch, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.5.