The Other Woman: A Rollercoaster of Feels

So, I sat down with a cup of coffee — you know, one of those big mugs that you can’t imagine finding anywhere but in a Swedish kitchen — and I started watching “The Other Woman” (or “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits,” as it’s also called). Directed by Don Roos, who gave us the quirky yet touching “The Opposite of Sex,” this film stars Natalie Portman, who’s always been a bit of a chameleon, hasn’t she? She’s joined by Lisa Kudrow, whom I can’t see without thinking of Phoebe from “Friends,” and Scott Cohen, who fits his role quite naturally.

The film’s got one of those plots that hit a bit too close to home sometimes. Emilia (Portman) is trying to step into the role of a stepmom, and it’s complicated. Reminds me of midsommardagen when my sister brought her new boyfriend to the family party. Everyone was trying to be nice, but you could cut the tension with a butter knife. Anyways, back to the movie! Emilia’s connection with her stepson, William, starts off rocky, but evolves into something genuinely touching.

The film was a bit uneven. Some scenes pack a real punch, but others feel like they borrowed their emotional queues from an IKEA manual. Maybe it’s just me, but there are moments when the dialogues sound like they’ve been put through Google Translate a few times too many.

One thing I couldn’t ignore was the beautiful shots of New York City. Makes me think of a foggy morning in Stockholm, the calm before the city truly wakes up.

It wasn’t perfect; I don’t think any film really is. But it’s heartfelt and, well, sometimes that’s enough for a cozy evening indoors, when you’re snuggled up with a blanket, thinking about all those odd little family dynamics we all navigate through in life. Give it a shot if you’re in a mood for a bittersweet story with characters that stick with you.

Check the trailer below