Aaron Epstein/Obscured Pictures Sally Field is a Staten Island cat lady in her latest film.
Luckily for "Hello, My Name Is Doris," Sally Field is still so likable, really likable.
The two-time Oscar winner stars in this laugh-deprived comedy. She brings so much warmth, goodwill and charm as a sad-sack sixtysomething who falls for coworker half her age that you're almost willing to forgive the ridiculous things Doris does.
Almost — but not quite.
Thank director Michael Showalter, who wrote the screenplay with Laura Terruso. The script puts Doris in so many cringe-worthy situations you wonder if the writers even like this hapless Staten Island cat lady of a certain age.
Sally Field has fantasies about Max Greenfield in "Hello, My Name is Doris."
Doris lives in the same home she's shared all of her life with her recently deceased mother. The place screams "Hoarders." Her brother (Stephen Root) nags Doris to get the home — and her life — in order. Easier said than done.
Inspired by knuckleheaded new age guru (Peter Gallagher), who declares that "impossible" is really "I'm possible," Doris gets obsessed with John (an appealing Max Greenfield), the hunky new art director in the office where she's a low-level clerk.
When she's not having Walter Mitty-style fantasies about kissing John, who takes a shine to Doris' quirks, she engineers awkward encounters. She deflates her office ball chair so that John, who cycles to work, will top off her seat with his bike pump. Doris sits during this moment, bouncing and moaning, which is supposed to be hilarious. It isn't.
Seacia Pavao/Obscured Pictures As Doris, Sally Field gets into cringe-worth situations.
Nor is it cute when Doris betrays her longtime BFF (Tyne Daly, who's so good you wish she were on screen more) and goes stalker and sabotages John by using a secret Facebook account. One starts to wonder if the film can wrap itself up in a way that's satisfying and if Field will keep her dignity.
The movie can't. Field does.
jdziemianowicz@nydailynews.com[1]
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