Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Hope Springs Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 20, 2018

Romantic Comedies tend to poke light-hearted fun at romantic ebbs and flows, the highs and lows, and usually throw in a zany miscue or three that, were it not for a little spark or spirit, could just as easily be interpreted and presented as a dour, difficult drama of dark despair. Hope Springs begins as that film, the story of a man whose life has all but come to an end, a man with a broken and battered heart who seeks alyssum in another country only to find the process of love and hope begin anew, until his past returns to haunt him further. The film embodies all of the core genre elements: relationships ending, relationships beginning, finding that special someone, and all the angst and baggage that comes with dealings of the heart. In that way it's not all that dissimilar from other RomComs (Runaway Bride, Fever Pitch, 27 Dresses, Music and Lyrics) but it's also unique in its representation of the tussle between past, present, and future and the tug-of-war on one very wounded man's heart.

Down and out.

Hope Springs, based on the novel New Cardiff by Charles Webb, follows Colin Ware (Colin Firth), a heartbroken and distraught Englishman who has traveled to a small town in Vermont appropriately (a place) called "Hope" to escape the fresh pains of a particularly difficult break-up that has spiraled his life down the drain. Shortly after his arrival and settling into an old motel under the care of the kindly Joanie Fisher (Mary Steenburgen), Colin meets Mandy (Heather Graham), a spunky, spirited girl-next-door who shines light on his once bleak existence and emotionally and sexually alike helps him to overcome his heartache. But just when his life seems to be back on track, a blast from the recent past hits him like a ton of bricks: Vera (Minnie Driver), his errant fiancee from England, shows up in Hope to upend his world once more.

While Hope Springs might, at first glance, appear to build a plot suitable for a beachside romance novel read with minimal draw away from the triangle of scorned lover, fresh face, and suddenly appearing ex, it quickly becomes apparent that the film has a little more substance -- enjoyable side characters, local charms -- to offer beyond its basic mechanics. Though the audience gets to know precious few of them, the quirky characters that inhabit Hope help add depth and heart to the film. Whether the overzealous mayor that desperately wants to put his town on the map, the overly suspicious and gossipy general store owners, or the sweet innkeeper and his meddling wife, Hope's townsfolk characters make the town a realistic backdrop for Colin's woos and woes and liaisons and the trouble that comes at him. They help keep the the film from dropping too much into the dramatic when the lonely sad Englishman arrives in town, a man who can barely hold his eyes open and who certainly can't open his heart so quickly after having it slammed shut and broken apart...or can he?

Hope Springs seems to make the transition from page to screen seamlessly. While this reviewer hasn't read the book, the essential, core material seems a natural for the jump. The film retains enough character complexities to elevate it beyond basic, essential trope. The screenplay, and Colin Firth, run with the idea of comparing and contrasting and pitting American culture against British sensibilities, and even as Colin retreats to a small northeastern town rather than the big city, there's enough opportunity to play with culture gaps to make for some agreeable little asides throughout the film. Mark Herman's screenplay is never wanting for more balance between humor, heart, and heartache, and his direction is agreeably steady and unobtrusive, carefully framing some of the small town essence but mostly leaving it to his cast to run with the material. The cast meshes into a cohesive and believable small town family and the romance is realistically depicted through all of its twists and turns and particularly as it impacts the characters closest to it.

Colin Firth is wonderful as the lonely Englishman who retreats across an ocean to lick his wounds and reassemble his life. He also inhabits the lifestyle of the brooding artist who finds inner refuge in drawing Hope's inhabitants. Heather Graham is likewise agreeable as the spunky, quirky love interest who seems to have a lot of fun drinking her way into the courage necessary to have a fling with the heartbroken Colin whom she decides needs a good, physical escape from his problems. Minnie Driver shines as the vindictive fiancee who comes to America to bring her pitiful man home. Once it becomes clear he won't come willingly, she craftily portrays a mastermind out to destroy his new relationship which seems on-track to supersede that she shared with him back in England.

Hope Springs Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Hope Springs' 1080p presentation is solid, if not a bit unspectacular. Textures are nicely revealed, lacking the absolute intimate complexity found on the top-end releases but general facial, clothing, and environments -- whether around Hope's exteriors or in the mayor's more neat office, for example -- are nicely revealing and rather stable at that. The color palette is slightly dull, lacking punch (even golf course greenery in chapter six), but essential colors are fine, skin tones only slightly pasty, and black levels not too far off track. A few little issues creep in. Opening title wobble is light but evident. Stray vertical lines and random pops and speckles make the occasionally, but mostly unobtrusive, appearance.

Hope Springs Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Hope Springs jumps out of speakers as best it can within the constraints of its DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. The presentation offers several agreeable moments of verve, such as in chapter three when Colin and Mandy cruise around in a sports car. Rock music spills from the sides with impressive vitality and a decent sense of low end engagement, even without a dedicated subwoofer channel in play. Similarly aggressively postured music returns a few minutes later, this time accompanied by some muscly car engine revs. Conversely, little support accents around Hope are nicely integrated, though not immersive. Things like chirping birds, distant cars or sirens, and the like find just enough front-side depth and balanced volume and sense of distance to offer a good foundational baseline for the area's sonic signature. Dialogue propels most of the movie and plays with good, commanding front-center imaging and faultless clarity. It's worth noting that subtitles tend to obscure parts of the opening titles.

Hope Springs Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Hope Springs contains a making-of and some trailers. No DVD or digital versions are included.

• The Making of Hope Springs (480i, 4x3, 7:04): Cast and crew discuss creating the film based on the book New Cardiff by Charles Webb, how each actor was able to find something in common with their character and add a personal touch to the film, how they learned to work with Director Mark Herman's less-vocal style, and how the almost constant rain in British Columbia impacted the filming.
• Trailers (480i): Trailers for Hope Springs, Miami Rhapsody, A Pyromaniac's Love Story, Two Much, Indian Summer, and Born Yesterday.

Hope Springs Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hope Springs is an agreeable, slightly different kind of Rom-Com, beginning with the down-and-out scorned lover and developing into a love triangle between the ex that wronged him and the new catch trying to heal him and reel him in. The film is the beneficiary of several great lead performances and a few memorable support characters, and the small town setting is a welcome change of pace from big city antics. Kino's Blu-ray delivers serviceable video and audio. Supplements are limited to a featurette and a handful of trailers. Recommended.