Python Hyena Prime (2005): Dir: Ben Younger / Cast: Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, Bryan Greenberg, Jon Abrahams, Annie Parisse: Romantic comedy about relationships and timing. It could have been much better since the concept has potential. Meryl Streep plays a therapist who learns that a 37 year-old female divorcée is now dating her 23 year-old son. This sets the stage for some hilarious moments that boil down to sitcom settings and situations with a third act that doesn't come together as well as it should. Director Ben Younger does well with the material. This is certainly a different path from his previous film Boiler Room. Streep's comic performance steals the film especially since she knows what the key players do not. Uma Thurman plays the divorcée while Bryan Greenberg plays Streep's son and both roles are by the numbers boring. Thurman at least gets to unintentionally dish out the goods during therapy sessions with Streep, but Greenberg never goes beyond the surface, and contains all the personality of a fence post. Jon Abrahams as the best friend who throws pies in the faces of girlfriends is underused, and his subplot might have made a much better movie on its own. Instead we are left with a dreary sitcom. Themes regard family, relationships and the flaws to overcome in order to survive them. Unfortunate the film is done in with its obvious sitcom delivery. Score: 5 / 10

blanche-2 "Prime" from 2005 is a sweet film starring Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, and Bryan Greenberg. Uma plays Rafi, a 37-year-old woman who is recently divorced and hashing her misery out with her therapist, Lisa Metzger (Streep). She's thrilled when a week after her divorce, she meets an attractive younger man, 23-year-old David (Greenberg). The two flip out over one another. What she doesn't know is that David is her therapist's son, and she wants him to marry someone Jewish. When Lisa finds out, problems arise.This is a light, not uproariously funny comedy, with good performances and New York City locations. Religion isn't the only issue; there's the 14-year age difference, David's relationship with his mother, his mother's quandary about continuing to work with Rafi, and Rafi's desire to have a child. As one friend puts it, she's "on the clock." All of which are handled very well and not in a heavy duty way.I wish there were more films that dealt with older women and younger men. We usually see outrageously older men and younger women, and it's not an issue in the movie! Meryl Streep does a good job as a matronly Jewish mother; she has some funny scenes. Bryan Greenberg is very good as an aspiring artist still finding his way. But for me, it's Uma Thurman's film. I can't see her without recalling that when I lived in New York, I saw her then-husband, Ethan Hawke, all the time with their baby. She's luminous, she's gorgeous, and her acting is marvelous as her character goes through the misery of divorce and the glory of new love, evolving all through the film. She's wonderful.This is a good rental, very enjoyable.

zarragossa Well most divorce woman are as warped or more then the one Urma is portraying and most woman in that age although maybe sexually in their prime are fat and worn out emotionally likely self inflicted and very common. Not every woman in that age has 300 + Million in her bank account and hence it is a privilege to woman that have and not woman that have only attitude and can't deliver a flat stomach nor some cash from the bank account. So all in all, this movie is painting the wrong picture and makes woman expect even more then they already do. It is rated a comedy but still has an aversive Jewish message to the gentiles which is rather an ugly soap bubble and confusing for most older woman at best. I ironed my shirts while watching it painfully to the end and recommend it as a confusing movie to all that need to be more confused.

brent-leslie I normally don't enjoy "rom coms" all that much so are finding myself loving this one (from a 30 yo male!), but would consider this a drama - not a comedy.I can't really understand some of the negative reviewers comments for this. Most of them state that "it's not really believable that these problems exist in todays world" (referring to problems of age/religious differences of two people in a relationship) or that they concentrate on small details without seeing the message the film delivers. However it is believable that a virus breaks out and turns everyone in the world to zombies leaving a few survivors to hack and slash their way to salvation without looking at the small details of how this could be stopped. I think this speaks volumes about some reviewers tastes.This film sets up a premise just as others do. That's what films do, they set up a premise and then play out what the writers believe what would happen subsequently, through the eyes of a director. And this movie does this with exceptional writing, direction and editing with a superb bunch of actors. Uma Thurman comes into her own on this one and her interaction with Merryl Streep is palpable as is the chemistry she has with the male lead.The premise is a 37 yo recent divorcée that starts a relationship with a 23 yo man who happens to be her therapists son. That is not so unbelievable is it? There are religious differences between the couple that have to be dealt with by everyone involved which occurs in a real and believable way. The movie goes on to examine a dilemma faced by many couples - can love conquer all? Is love enough in todays world where people have so many commitments and expectations on them from society, their family and peers? The movie explores these issues with accuracy and feeling.There are some small issues with the movie that could have been cleared up, hence the lack of full marks. The sidekick with the pie throwing issue is one (wouldn't he have been arrested/got beaten up by now??), the stereotypical gay friends (though they were very well acted roles) and the amazing paintings by the male lead come to mind (showing a maturity well beyond most 23 year olds). This however is a stunning examination of modern relationships that will remain in memory for years to come. 8.5/10