The Answer Man (2009)

The Answer Man (2009) - Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom, Independence Day)  is a reclusive author who wrote a bestselling spirituality book twenty years ago.  Elizabeth (Lauren Graham, Gilmore Girls) is a new chiropractor and single mom trying to make a fresh start.  Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci, The Evil Dead (2013)) is an alcoholic fresh out of rehab with a struggling used book store.  When their lives come together, they help each other in ways no-one could have imagined.

I wanted to take a break from the ghost stories and sci-fi and try a romantic comedy.  What I didn't realize is that I had watched this years ago, but it was still cute and heartwarming on a second viewing.  It's odd to find a romantic comedy
with three main characters that works, but this one does, because it's not *just* about the romance, but about everyone's struggle to find the answers in life.

Even though the age difference between Daniels and Graham should have made this awkward, it works.  In fact this movie hits all the right notes at just the right times.  It's funny without trying too hard, heartwarming without being sappy or treacly, and has just enough wisdom in it to make you think a bit.

Four times I laughed out loud, mostly with Daniels' character as I could relate to his back troubles... a lot.  I put down the needles twice to concentrate on the story during some important events.  No eye-rolling, although I should have at some of Graham's veggie-bacon breakfast ideas.

I give this a four out of five stars.  While it does hit all the comedic and heartwarming notes perfectly, it's not really romantic despite the notable use of the song "Isn't It Romantic?" as a motif.  And the resolution was just a tad predictable.

It's available on Netflix and Amazon prime, but at $6 for the DVD, if you're a collector you might want to pick this up and add it to your feel-good section.