Miss You Already (Toni Collette, Drew Barrymore)

[Britnasty]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtdVWsA3ctI

4/5.

I am always here for a good chick flick, generally heartwarming and fun, I expected nothing less from this even with the added storyline of Cancer thrown in, I expected at most, minimal drama. What I was not prepared for, was how truly emotionally overwhelming this film was, and an Oscar caliber performance from Toni Collette.

This film IS hysterical, Drew and Toni play off each other so well and you truly feel like they really have been friends their entire life. The film often serves as a bit of a character study on how friends grow and change but ultimately stay the same as the years tick off.

Drew was her usual self. I expect nothing less from her. She plays the sweet friend everyone has, always supportive but can be wholly honest and turn it on a pinch. Dominic Cooper wasn't anything to call home about, he played the grief stricken husband well, he already nailed the younger version of his character in Tamara Drewe, so nothing too exceptional here.

The real standout is Toni Collette. We have seen time and time again roles of people stricken with cancer or another debilitating disease and play it decently. What Collette does here is nothing short of gripping, human and overall, exceptional. There are two scenes that instantly spring to mind:

[Show spoiler]1) When she goes to purchase a wig as her hair is falling out, the scenes goes from funny to nothing but earth shattering. As Frances De La Tour shaves each section of Milly's hair off, you can feel underneath your skin that she is losing her battle with herself. It's a short scenes but it leaves that sad, bitter taste in your mouth.

2) After her double mastectomy, Jess (Drew Barrymore) comes over to help Milly with her recovery. Milly takes her bandages off to reveal the scars from the surgery and its in that moment, you realize our character is broken and has given up. She is a shell of herself and is lost. It's another instant moment of pure emotion that everyone in my theatre felt. Lots of loud sniffles were heard especially at this part.

I imagine not many will see this when its available on Blu or even on TV and even less will see it in its limited theatrical run this weekend, but those that do will not regret it in the slightest.

I expect nothing to come from this film come award season. Toni Collette will not be recognized as even a potential nominee and will get lost in the shuffle, almost as the same as her getting lost in this role.

The only potential nomination I could even see considered would be Best Original Song for "The Crazy Ones", written by Diane Warren and sung by the amazing Paloma Faith. It's played over the trailer and it's a powerhouse.