When her only daughter goes off to university, an empty-nest mother gets stuck taking care of her daughter’s heartbroken ex-boyfriend, whom she can’t stand.
Chucks says:
Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart’s “Suze” is an unassuming delight bouyed by a poignant, comedic performance from Michaela Watkins in the titular role. Suze is a mom at loose ends. Still reeling from her husband’s infidelity, which led to their divorce, her whole life revolves around her daughter, Sarah (Sara Waisglass). However, she’s headed off to college, a change Suze is not prepared for. Neither is Sarah’s boyfriend Gage (Charlie Gillespie), a dim bulb with a big heart.
When Sarah dumps Gage, the young man is despondent and attempts suicide. With his father out of town and mother in prison, Suze reluctantly takes him in, a move she is reluctant to make as she’s worried about leaving him alone and, truth be told, she’s never been his number one fan.
As this unique living situation progresses, Suze and Gage realize they have a great deal in common. Feelings of abandonment and low self-esteem plague them both, and while we’re aware of her source of despondency, Gage’s background proves unexpectedly moving.
Watkins and Gillespie have great chemistry, the former’s looks of resigned frustration producing big laughs in the face of the latter’s obliviousness. These moments come as no surprise but the bond that grows between them does. Clark and Stewart’s screenplay manages to keep its potentially ridiculous conceit just on the right side of plausibility, thanks in large part to the intelligent way they approach Gage’s history. The filmmakers keep overt manipulation at a minimum, relying on their two leads to provide a foundation of sincerity that allows the movie to work.
A genuine suprise, “Suze” manages to stick with you long after the credits roll, Watkins and Gillespie creating such fully realized characters, we can’t help but wonder, and hope, that good fortune is finally shining on them.
3 1/2 Stars
