SXSW Review: ‘For Worse’ is a Wondrously Funny Directorial Debut for Amy Landecker

Wedding officiants sometimes talk about how guests in the crowd flash back to one of the happiest moments of their lives when they’re looking at a new couple about to be married. But it’s just as true that those who have been through a divorce might not be at their best when they’re reminded of something that is now associated with pain and disappointment. For Worse is a sharply funny comedy about moving on after a divorce and the hilarious obstacles that get thrown in the way of trying to just get by without too much drama.

Lauren (Amy Landecker) has just finalized her divorce from Chase (Paul Adelstein), who is already quite close with his influencer girlfriend, Sara (Angelique Cabral), who in turn has also enchanted Lauren’s daughter Lucy (Chloe Cleary). Lauren’s decision to take an acting class puts her in the proximity of a much younger crowd, including Sean (Nico Hiraga), a scene partner who becomes a romantic interest, and Maria (Kiersey Clemons), who decides to invite all her new friends to her wedding. While she’s initially apprehensive, she ultimately decides to go with Sean to the wedding, only to find him thrown into the wedding party and her forced to fend for herself in a situation that really isn’t somewhere she wants to be.

This is the feature debut behind the camera for writer-director Landecker, who makes fantastic use of her connections within the industry to populate the film’s supporting roles. Having herself gotten divorced over a decades ago, she pulls from the personal experience of going to a friend’s wedding – Cabral’s, in fact – after that life event and realizing just how awkward it was. This is also a family affair for Landecker, who casts the man she’s now married to, Bradley Whitford, as Maria’s bitter divorced dad, who doesn’t seem like he’s even trying to have any fun at his only daughter’s wedding.

This is a film that’s about a woman of a certain age who, until recently, hasn’t had to contend with these problems. She’s been married, even if it’s to someone who clearly wasn’t the right fit, and she’s used to being a mom to a daughter who, unlike some onscreen children in other films and TV shows, actually seems to like her mother and has even designed a checklist that her mom’s new boyfriend should fulfill. Lauren is surrounded by people whose life experience is much shorter than hers and can’t really relate to what she’s going through, but it also gives her a new space in which to reinvent and rediscover herself, so vastly different from what’s become the norm for her.

It’s marvelous to see Landecker arrive as a director with such a winning first film. It’s funny from its very first frame, which freezes on Lauren’s face after Chase throws cake onto it, cutting immediately to their divorce taking effect after a lengthy comedic speech from Simon Helberg’s mediator. The things that happen to Lauren are naturally amusing, but each character, however minor, adds humor to their line delivery and interactions with the rest of the cast. Landecker herself is fantastic, emphasizing Lauren’s sarcastic nature and the way that unfortunate things tend to happen to her even if she’s not doing anything to invite them.

Everyone in this ensemble contributes something, and a number of them arrive at this film thanks to past associations with Landecker, like her Transparent costar Gaby Hoffman as the zany acting teacher and her Your Honor costar Lilli Kay as one of her fellow acting students. Missi Pyle and Ken Marino have memorable moments as characters closest to Lauren’s age, and Hiraga is a great match for Landecker’s energy. It’s particularly delightful to see Landecker and Whitford acting together, highlighting the natural chemistry they have that pervades so much of this extremely endearing, hilarious, and true-to-life film.

Movie Rating: 8/10