A slow plodding drama with a train wreck plot (I like train wrecks). The main character is dull. But Kristen Wiig does a great job all the same. It screams, life is hard. They scenes filmed make the hard parts seem easier than they would normally be. But good acting and editing quickly brings back the focus to reality. If you watch the whole thing, you just might like it.

I loved this movie but it is clearly for those who like a romantic movie. It is not marginal it is great in that genre. The basic story is very old, that two inadequate people do better together. He is very confused and his own worst enemy and she is going toward the life of a nun. Guy Pearce was better at this in A Slipping Down Life where he was younger and not playing a grotty character. But he is fine. However the movie is about Kristen Wiig and she is fantastic. She plays a some what stunted type character unlike any character you will ever see her play again, who wants very little and is very happy with what she gets. That you identify with her is a sign of great acting.

So far Kristen Wiig has been known as a comedienne, so it's a welcome turn to see her in "Hateship Loveship". She plays a woman goes to be a caretaker for a man and his granddaughter, setting in motion a series of events. What I liked was not only the characters' depth, but also a trick that the movie plays: the cruel trick attempted by the granddaughter's friend backfires.Much like how Bill Murray proved his versatility by starring in a number of serious movies in the 21st century, Kristen Wiig does so here. She has good support from Guy Pearce, Nick Nolte, Hailee Steinfeld, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Christine Lahti (appearing briefly is Peggy Walton-Walker, whom I once met). I hope that Liza Johnson continues directing movies. In the meantime, I recommend that you see "Hateship Loveship".

When it comes to comedians doing dramatic roles, especially after they peak, when it comes to their comedy, it has led to some quality roles. For whether it was Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey, arguably some of their dramatic roles are better than 90% of their comedy films. Unfortunately though, women haven't really found themselves transitioning as often from being a comedian to going to dramas. Monique did with Precious and Kim Wayans with Pariah, but I would argue it isn't much a norm. Leading to the question: Does Wiig present herself as the next comedian to show dramatic chops, or maybe she should stick to making people laugh?Characters & StoryJohanna's (Kristen Wiig) latest job ends with the old woman dying and then her venturing off to become the nanny to a young girl named Sabitha (Hailee Steinfeld), who lives with her grandpa Mr. McCauley (Nick Nolte). A man she lives with since her dad Ken (Guy Pearce) is a drug addict and killed Mc. McCauley's daughter. So, to protect his granddaughter from such nonsense, and to punish him as well, he has guardianship over Sabitha.Thing is though, he is old and can't keep up with her so that is where Johanna comes in. But with Johanna being plain, and a bit gullible, naturally it leads Sabitha and friend Edith (Sami Gayle) to pick with her. How? Well, they pretend that Ken has a romantic interest in Johanna and for most of the movie that is the main focus. Johanna falling for Ken and him growing accustomed to her.PraiseSomething I liked about this film was everyone was given their own life outside of Johanna's role in it. Sabitha had friends, a love interest, and her own drama; Mr. McCauley had a love interest; and Ken had his drug buddy Chloe (Jennifer Jason Leigh), his motel, and probation officer to worry about. All of which kept them from seeming like their lives stopped and started only when Johanna was around.CriticismAnd the reason I'm glad they were presented with some sense of their own lives is because Wiig plays Johanna as a woman who speaks in monotone, and almost has a horror villain type of personality. Like, when you meet Johanna you almost wonder if by the end of the film there will be blood everywhere, which of course she would clean up, and then she would leave as quietly as she came. For that is how deadpan Wiig plays her. Add in that Johanna isn't interesting in any sense of the word, and it makes the lead damn near feel like a liability.Though the story, as a whole, isn't really appealing to compensate mind you. For while there are mentions of what happened to Ken's ex- wife, some tidbits about Ken's sort of girlfriend Chloe, and we get little story tidbits about Mr. McCauley and Sabitha, often it feels like the story is rather aimless. Yes, there is a beginning, in which Johanna shows up to Mr. McCauley's house; a middle, when Johanna falls in love with Ken; and an end, in which those two find themselves in a relationship; but, once all is said and done, it is hard to say you were really given a reason to care about anyone for no one seemed to really evolve. Take for example Ken's drug addiction, we don't see him go through withdraw and all that, or really heal his relationship with Sabitha or Mr. McCauley, it is just Johanna stepping in, telling him he should stop due to her getting pregnant, and then we time jump and it seems he is now the type of guy he should have always been. Making it so the one meaty part of the movie, which could have brought some type of interest, gets cut.Overall: Skip ItLike The Prince, something about this movie just feels lazy. Almost as if there was an interesting story which could have been told, but something led to the writers telling you the most basic of stories just so that they could fit the movie into the schedules of all the actors involved. Leading to why I'm saying to skip this film. For while there isn't anything necessarily wrong with it, unless you are picky, it just is boring to the point where it doesn't provide you anything besides good background noise for a nap.