“Suze” - Film Review
They say you never forget your first love. Even when college inevitably pulls young lovers apart, there is something that lingers. In the case of Suze, what lingers is an ex-boyfriend. Written and directed by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, Suze is an odd little gem of a film that finds its heart and humor in the unlikely friendship that blossoms between a divorced empty nester and her daughter’s ex-boyfriend. Together, they show each other that there’s more to life than the girl who left them behind.
Susan’s (Michaela Watkins) life revolves around her daughter, Brooke (Sara Waisglass). Since divorcing her husband (Sandy Jobin-Bevans) after he cheated on her with a golf pro, it’s just been Susan and Brooke in the house. They had originally prepared for Brooke to go to a local college and live at home, but, unbeknownst to Susan, Brooke and her father made plans for her to go to school four hours away. Susan is blindsided, devastated, and heartbroken. Gage (Charlie Gillespie), Brooke’s ex-boyfriend, is similarly distraught. The two form an Odd Couple-esque relationship as they try to move forward with their lives.
What makes or breaks Suze is the dynamic between Susan and Gage. Much of the film consists of them spending time together. At first, it’s begrudging on Susan’s part. She couldn’t stand the guy when he was dating her daughter and has even less patience for him in the aftermath of the break-up. Gage is the epitome of a himbo, all smiles and good times, seemingly without a care in the world. Of course he’s more than that, it’s just not immediately obvious to those around him. As Susan spends more time with him, she sees a sweet, sensitive kid who’s deeply hurting and without any sort of parental figure to guide him. It’s the classic realization that people are not what they at first seem to be.
Tribeca Films
The same can be said for Susan. After the divorce, she has built her entire life around Brooke, who doesn’t understand her mother’s helicopter-parent actions. Brooke takes Susan’s day-in, day-out effort for granted and sees it as stifling. Never once does Brooke thank her mother, she just expects her to say yes, no matter how absurd the request. Together, Susan and Gage provide one another with what they didn’t realize they were missing. Gage never expects Susan to go out of her way to care for him, and Susan never expects Gage to give a damn about her life. They both needed someone to believe in them so they could begin to believe in themselves, and that person came from an unlikely place. A lesser movie would have had Gage and Susan’s relationship turn fully physical. In Suze, the two share a brief kiss, but it doesn’t come from a place of romance. The kiss comes from Gage’s hurt, misguided understanding of what it means to have someone in his life who believes in him. It isn’t the smart choice, but it is the choice a foolish eighteen-year-old would make.
There is so much to love in Suze. Watkins is funnier than ever and Gillespie is a perfect foil. Together, they are gentle, foolish, and hopeful, believing for the first time that the future could be bright. Suze is a sweet little comedy about the aches and pains of growing up, whatever age you are.
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