[Thurman's] summery radiance helps make this thin romantic comedy hard to dislike.
Prime (2005)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:115
Fresh:56
Rotten:59
Average Rating:5.6/10
Consensus: Though Streep is dependably terrific in her role, the rest of the movie is too sitcom-ish, and the romance itself is dull.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for sexual content including dialogue, and for language
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Genre: Romance, Theatrical Release
Theatrical Release:Oct 28, 2005 Wide
Box Office: $22,728,025
Synopsis: New York City forms the backdrop for writer/director Ben Younger's (BOILER ROOM) PRIME, a gentle comedy that weaves a tale of two lovers trying to keep the flame alive as an unusual obstacle is... New York City forms the backdrop for writer/director Ben Younger's (BOILER ROOM) PRIME, a gentle comedy that weaves a tale of two lovers trying to keep the flame alive as an unusual obstacle is hurled in their path. Rafi Gardet (Uma Thurman) is a newly divorced 37-year-old career woman who regularly spills her woes to her therapist, Lisa Metzger (Meryl Streep). Rafi's love life takes a sudden upturn when she meets Bryan Greenberg (David Bloomberg), a penniless painter who lives on the Lower East Side with his grandparents and, at 23, is significantly younger than Rafi. Uptown girl Rafi isn't used to such differences in age and location, but the sex is great, and Bryan seems attentive enough, so she jubilantly tells Lisa in passionate detail about their blossoming relationship. The trouble is, the more Rafi tells her, the more Lisa realizes that the hot young boy-toy Rafi is busy seducing on a nightly basis is, in fact, her own son. The problems mount, with Rafi's status as a gentile not going over well with Bryan's Jewish family, and Lisa unable to decide whether to stop the therapy sessions or not. Younger delivers a heady mixture of laughs and salient points in a film that settles snugly into familiar early-21st-century territory for romantic-comedy fans. He peppers the action with product placement, warm pastel colors in spacious FRIENDS-style New York apartments, and bitter recriminations that quickly turn to passionate makeup sex on more than one occasion. The director clearly enjoys a love affair with the city, with swooping shots throughout of the late-night Manhattan skyline providing the perfect setting as his two leads act out their bittersweet union. [More]
Starring: Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep, Bryan Greenberg, Jon Abrahams
Starring: Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep, Bryan Greenberg, Jon Abrahams, Zak Orth
Director: Ben Younger
Director: Ben Younger
Screenwriter: Ben Younger
Producer: Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd
Studio: Universal Pictures
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Reviews for Prime
A pleasing balance between romantic moments...and humor-focused scenes that feel fresh, even if often treading on familiar territory
The only real saving grace in the movie -- to the extent that it has one -- is Streep, whose scenes with Thurman zing with a breezy, passive-aggressive delight.
[Younger] turns what could have been a silly romp into something bigger and more beautiful, something that embraces both laughter and tears.
Streep finds lots of fresh ground in scenes in which her character has to wrestle with her professional obligations and mom obligations.
Prime sometimes feel as if the movie itself hasn't fully formed or matured. Ironic, yes, so it's nice that it has Streep and Thurman to pull you through.
Streep's character -- a humorous blend of open-minded therapist and neurotic Jewish mother -- makes the movie worth watching.
Streep has played comedy before, and she’s on top of her game here, able to do more with a twitching eyebrow than some actresses can do with a page of dialogue.
This falls short of the obvious model, Woody Allen's Annie Hall, but the performers are engagingly good at pushing the situation along.
All the characters are likeable and flawed (just like the genial film).
Follows a familiar boy-meets-girl scenario, but Younger turns the routine into combustible fun.
The laughs in 'Prime' keep coming, as do hopes for someone to have a happy ending.
Meryl Streep brilla en esta comedia romántica graciosa y disfrutable sobre el amor, los prejuicios, y otras costumbres muy humanas.
I like that a movie with such a farcical premise can be so upscale and witty.
The kind of film that will be widely referred to as 'cute,' but this is the rare case where "cute" does not translate to 'insulting.'
Where the movie works is the first hour with Streep and Thurman wonderfully playing off each other.
If anyone is in their 'prime' it is Meryl Streep who just keeps getting better
Latest News for Prime
May 10, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: "28 Weeks Later" and "Georgia Rule" To Battle For #2 Spot
In what must be a first at the box office, an aerobics queen takes on killer zombies in a vicious battle for the silver medal during what no doubt will be another mammoth... More...
November 02, 2006:
Box Office Guru Preview: Santa Battles Borat for Weekend Crown
A pair of new family films aimed at kids will duke it out for the top spot this weekend while a bumbling reporter from the former Soviet Union will cause a commotion for a more... More...
October 26, 2006:
Box Office Guru Preview: Saw III Brings The Pain
Blood will flow and screams will be deafening at North American multiplexes this weekend when the horror sequel "Saw III" buzzes its way into theaters. While there... More...
June 29, 2006:
Critical Consensus: "Superman" And "Devil" Are Certified Fresh
This week's wide releases both involve publishing. In "The Devil Wears Prada," the setting is a fashion magazine, and in "Superman Returns," it's The Daily... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.

TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic


