This is classified as a comedy because it has a good ending --- characters end up happy, healthy and successful. Not because it is a a hilarious knee slapper. As opposed to a traditional tragedy that has a bad ending --- characters die, get killed, are unhappy, unsuccessful.I found it to be a mature, intelligent and realistic look at what happens to couples sometimes when they have been together for a long time. They lose intimacy --- emotional, psychological, mental and physical intimacy. And one spouse seems to take the other for granted.My only complaint would be the therapist jumped to sex too quickly without exploring other aspects of their lives.I especially liked the intelligent and mature way the couple dealt with their problems. They did't get violent. They did't get personal. They just got exasperated, walked out, spent time alone thinking, and eventually came back to try again. It is funny in a mature and intelligent way. But it won't leave you rolling on the floor.

Hope Springs (2012): Dir: David Frankel / Cast: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, Jean Smart, Elisabeth Shue: David Frankel scored big with the awesome The Devil Wears Prada, and while this film isn't as successful, it still addresses an issue regarding marriages that have grown stale and routine. It regards reclaiming that initial spark. The film stars Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as that married couple of thirty-one years. She uses her savings to answer an ad regarding a marriage therapist in Main, and her husband reluctantly goes along. The film's biggest payoff is the casting of Streep and Jones who have great comic chemistry, especially when challenged to address intimacy. Streep yearns for the compassion while Jones would prefer not to address it, sidelining it with many of the film's best lines. This becomes somewhat repetitious as they leave each session with tasks that intrude their personal comfort zone. One of the funniest scenes regards an attempt at oral sex in a movie theatre. We know where it ends but older viewers will likely relate to its issues and its humour. Steve Carell holds his own as the counsellor providing another layer of humour without mugging from the central characters. We are told that he is married but little comes outside of the sessions. He does provide a decent comic counter to Streep and Jones. Other roles are also as flat as the initial marriage in question. The message is long lasting intimacy within marriage. In the end, the hope springs from brave performances from Streep and Jones that remind us that marriage can have value. Score: 7 ½ / 10

The only laugh I had in this movie was when Kay bites the banana. Otherwise it was sad for 90% of the movie. This isn't a comedy.It isn't easy to find a good romantic comedy these days. The number of movies marked 4+ stars on Netflix is very misleading.I've watched perhaps 20 "Romantic Comedies" in the past two weeks (while working on other things on my computer) and only about 20% of them were worth watching. Now I find myself reading reviews on IMDb or Netflix before I commit two hours to watching a hole movie.Hope Springs is very slow, too much anger, and the switch from not getting along to back in love was much too quick. It should have been a much more spread out progress.

Hope Springs is a romantic comedy and drama that features Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones together with Steve Carell,Elisabeth Shue and Mimi Rogers.This movie takes a view at mature relationships particularly Kay and Arnold who has been married for decades.Kay feels that she and her husband Arnold are just going to the motions of their marriage despite the fact that they show devotion to each other.She wanted to bring up some spice into their relationship by doing various things to reconnect with her husband like seducing her at night but to no avail as he apparently has shown no interest.This led her to convince her husband to visit a couple therapist in town called Great Hope Springs.She had difficulty in persuading him considering his virtues of being steadfast man of routine but manages to do so in the end.During their retreat,both started to explore the challenges they are facing and find out why their marriage has become somewhat dull and boring.But ultimately,this led them to realize their shortcomings and fall for each other once again.No question that Meryl Streep once again delivers as Kay.What's good about it is the fact that she manages to provide a very sexual performance as an aging wife who needs to do something about her lifeless marriage.What's good is that Tommy Lee Jones manages to complement her acting talent as the disinterested husband.Their chemistry and comedic talent shines throughout the film.Although this film could be boring especially for the young audience who have yet to experience what Kay and Arnold are experiencing,I still was somehow felt entertained due to the lead stars performance as they managed to elevate the film despite its average script and direction.Also,it is worth giving credit to the supporting cast for providing spice to what could have been a generic movie without Streep and Jones.