'You Hurt My Feelings' Review: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Is Funny As Ever In Light Comedy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings. Credit: Jeong Park. Courtesy of A24.
“You hurt my feelings.” It’s a phrase taught to most kindergarteners when they find themselves unable to truly convey the emotion when they feel wronged by another individual. This idea is what becomes the center and driving force of You Hurt My Feelings, the latest film from Enough Said director Nicole Holofcener, who reteams with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for this light and breezy comedy. The film begins in the office of Don (Tobias Menzies), a therapist who, as he ages, is getting less familiar and energetic with his clients. This is initially seen during his interaction with Carolyn (Amber Tamblyn) and Jonathan (David Cross), a married couple who can’t seem to agree on anything except the fact that he’s not helping — failing to do what he thinks he’s good at. For Don’s wife, Beth (Dreyfus), this individual realization comes at a moment when she’s having fun with her sister Sarah (Michaela Watkins), when she overhears Don admitting to brother-in-law Mark (Arian Moayed) that he’s not a fan of her new novel — news to her.
Tobias Menzies (left) & Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings. Credit: Jeong Park. Courtesy of A24.
To be honest, there’s not much to say about You Hurt My Feelings. It’s a movie that knows exactly what it is and who its audience is, and leans into the lighthearted jokes it carries out. The story does begin to get stretched thin in the third act when it runs out of new commentary and interesting things to say, but picks up some speed after a time gap before its final scenes. The overall theme of white lies that we perceive as “little,” not doing harm to anyone being more impactful than we can imagine provides strong overall connectivity for each moving part of the film, curating an environment that’s perfect for a Friday date night — be cautious, though, as it may start some arguments or bring up awkward questions.
You Hurt My Feelings does bring up interesting commentary on the idea of whether or not we should honestly inform loved ones of our true feelings regarding their work or if it’s better to tell them what they want to hear, regardless of the consequences. It’s a very sharp, witty look at the aforementioned little white lies we tell each other and what can happen if the truth comes out while serving as a vessel for Julia Louis-Dreyfus (and a great supporting cast) to do what they do best and entertain with humor that resonates with most viewers. There’s a great lovingly awkward mother/son dynamic between Dreyfus and Owen Teague, who share perhaps one of the most outrageous scenes of the year so far, that when it starts, you think to yourself, “There’s no way they’re doing thi— oh wait, they’re doing it.”
Dreyfus isn’t afraid to take on both sides of the parent/child dynamic, creating some of the movie’s funniest scenes opposite Jeannie Berlin, who plays Beth’s mother, Georgia. It’s this relatability that makes the movie accessible and allows us to think about those moments in our own lives where we have to find the perfect balance of encouragement and realism while doing so in a tight, very New York-y manner. It’s short, sweet, to the point, and has a winning ensemble. What’s not to like? ∎ This Week Media
You Hurt My Feelings hits theaters on May 26.
