I found this film to be both touching and humorous. The acting is first rate and, like life, the events are unpredictable. The characters are believable as they all present flaws. Helen Hunt does an amazing job of directing and acting in this movie. In fact, this movie was a preoccupation for her for more than a decade as she shouldered just about every aspect of its production. Colin Firth, Bette Middler and Mathew Broderick all agreed to work to scale for this picture because they so much liked the scripted and respected Helen Hunt's expertise and commitment. This is another good example showing that big budgets are not required to produce an excellent product.This is a film I shall watch repeatedly over the years.

"Then She Found Me" opens as something we've all seen before. Some sort of crazy Jew ceremonies (don't worry I'm not antisemitic) we've seen religious antics in all types of romcoms whether it be in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", the wonderful "Sixty Six" or even in the opening of "Schindler's List" (not a romcom but nevertheless brilliant) and so we know what we've let ourselves in for. An average trip down predictable lovers lane. The plot is outlined in our heads already. Woman single, woman finds someone she likes, woman falls out with her fancy man due to complications, woman eventually marries love interest with some good humour and various subplots inbetween. Yep, that's basically what we've got here only we've got a long lost mum (or 'mom') thrown into the entertaining mix as well as our hero's quest for pregnancy.So we know it's predictable like most romcoms but "The She Found Me" is saved by the hilarious Bette Mudler who I would happily watch any film for. Not only is Miss Midler a talented actress and singer, but she has perfect comic timing and so gets all the best lines and rightly so! Bette Midler is the saviour of this piece and I don't think she's in it enough! Whenever our dear Bette is off screen we're just praying for her to make a return and on this occasion she plays an interfering yet endearing mother who magically reappears in a rather rough looking Helen Hunt's life.Helen has had a big trial during this film, not only being the main star of the film (even though Bette steals that from her) but she also wrote the screenplay (with two others so they probably did all the work) and also directed it! Helen the actress is OK, she has won an Oscar but didn't deserve it, Helena Bonham Carter was the worthy winner in that line-up but as Helen's the only yankee doodle dandy there, she has to win it doesn't she! Anyway, yeah she's OK, nothing special, she's actually quite an annoying character which isn't always a good thing. Helen the writer is good on the one-liners (if she wrote them) but not so good on the story development. Finally, Helen the director is very average, though there isn't much flare to direct with within a romantic comedy.Oh, and we also have our dear King of England, Bertie Firth (or is it Colin?) King George anyway, he's playing an English idiot who Helen quite fancies. Colin's character isn't particularly likable either so him and Helen are suited for each other.Overall, this is the type of film where you can put your knickers on the radiator, heat them up, put them on, get all comfy on your one-seater sofa with the massaging back (I have no idea what I'm typing here!) And get ready for some predictable heart-felt, cosy romcom with a few belly laughs amongst the mostly unlikable characters. Best enjoyed with a mug of chips.

I've thought a lot about this film in the 24 hours after seeing it. I remember it as a very well written, directed, and acted film. And the next day decided to research it on IMDb since I had not heard of it before my wife rented the DVD. Amazed it was directed by Helen Hunt, who gives an awesome performance, drawing out deep emotions (and looking a bit drawn but that is the role). I thought the director really knew how to draw out her best acting performance, the depth of emotion, and WHOW!, I find out SHE was the director. AMAZING! A cast of great actors in every role (Tim Robbins in a tiny cameo) plus a strong emotional script, well directed, makes this a very impressive film 24 hours after seeing it. I will recommend it.

When I borrowed this film from my local library I was hoping it would live up to the abilities of its promising cast (Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth & Matthew Broderick), and yet it took me a while to actually sit down and view it. Fortunately it turned out to be funny and endearing.I read in the beginning credits that it was based on a novel and it looks like Helen Hunt (as director), along with the screenwriters, were able to effectively glean the comedic elements from the story. The film's achievement is portraying the swirling emotions of its central characters without becoming too cloying or desperate.In terms of the actors, Bette Midler is especially memorable as a woman who fumbles into territory that for her, up to this point in her life, is seemingly uncharted. Colin Firth is messy and lovable, Matthew Broderick, pathetic and a bit lost. And Helen Hunt proves herself as a capable director while depicting a woman searching for her own sense of fulfillment. There were moments while watching this that I laughed out loud and other moments when I cried -- this amounts to some of my criteria that makes a movie ultimately worth seeing.