Blu-ray

A revolution is underway in your local cinema. 'Older' audiences have broken out of the special screening ghetto that multiplexes used to put on in the hope of pulling them in, and are now spending significant amounts of money at the box office. And realising that they aren't necessarily looking for films about its usual subjects (superheroes, serial killers and the like) Hollywood has set about making films aimed specifically at this more mature demographic, resulting in recent hits like The King's Speech and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Unfortunately, HCC is staffed entirely by people who do go to see films about super-powered freaks and sadistic nutters. Which is why we decided that we weren't best qualified to review Hope Springs, the latest Hollywood comedy aimed at this more grown-up audience. Instead we reached for the phone and contacted our 'age-appropriate' special guest reviewer Jean Nightingale to cover the film. So, take it away Jean...

"Hope Springs is built around the troubled marriage of Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) and Kay (Meryl Streep) who, after years and years together, are now sleeping in separate bedrooms. Arnold has settled in a comfy routine of work, family and golf, and is averse to any change. Kay meanwhile, in the era of 50 Shades of Grey, wants her marriage to have the romance and sex of the early years. So she makes a reservation with a couples counsellor (Steve Carell) in Maine - which doesn't exactly go down well with Arnold, but he reluctantly agrees to go along.

Neither the initial meetings with the counsellor nor the ensuing 'sexercises' go well and after a disastrous attempt at a romantic dinner and seduction, the couple return home to their same boring life as before. With Kay ready to pack her bags and leave, will Arnold ever rekindle the passion and intimacy of the early years of their relationship and manage to hold things together?

I loved this film. One minute it made me laugh, while the next scene made me want to cry. Having previously seen Tommy Lee Jones playing the tough guy in films like The Fugitive it was a revelation to see him in a comic role. The look on his face while trying the 'sexercise' with his legs apart and when answering some very probing sex questions is absolutely priceless.

Meryl Streep, as alway, is excellent. She again has a light comic touch, but also brings a depth of sadness when required. The scene where Arnold makes her cry after conselling is especially poignant. She also gets all of the film's funniest moments - whether it's asking a bar full of men whether any of them still have sex, borrowing Arnold's glasses so she can find his zip as they *ahem* 'fool around' in a cinema or enjoying a banana in the bathroom (I am not explaining that one - you will just have to watch the film). She's so much better here than in her last comedic outing, It's Complicated.

For me Hope Springs more than lived up to its publicity blurb of being 'The Perfect Gift for Mum'. But then being a mature lady who has been married to the same man for many years, I'm clearly smack in the middle of the film's target audience. And to others like myself, Hope Springs comes with a hearty recommendation - although I am not sure if it is one for the younger generation.

That said, the film does offer one piece of advice that works for all men across all generations - No wife wants practical presents to help with the housework for her birthday. So when the big day comes, make sure you splash the cash on something special instead."

Picture: It may not always flatter its aging stars, but Momentum Pictures' flawless AVC 2.40:1 1080p encode takes pride in highlighting every single wrinkle, hair and texture captured by the filmmaker's cameras. Other elements of the image are just as impressive - be it the accurately judged contrast levels, warm colour tones and picture-perfect black levels. So even if it can't offer the kind of fast-paced action of something like Skyfall, this Blu-ray release of Hope Springs proves to be just as effective at bringing out the very best in your home cinema screen.
Picture rating: 5/5

Audio: There really aren't too many surprises lying in wait when it comes to Hope Springs' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack - it's pretty typical comedy-drama stuff with the vasy majority of the focus given to the front the soundstage. That said, it's hard to fault the mix for what it does within these modest ambitions. The all-important dialogie is crystal clear at all times and sounds utterly natural. Likewise, ambient effects make gentle use of the surrounds to bring the varied locations to life and make then feel like genuine three-dimensional spaces. As a final touch the score has a delightful range and warmth that feels perfectly in keeping with the film it supports.
Audio rating: 4/5

Extras: Director David Frankel kicks off the bonus material with an erudite and informative audio commentary that mostly resists the urge to just gush about how great everybody is in order to discuss the way that the story evolved and changed during the shooting and other aspects of the filmmaking process. There's nothing too revelatory here, but if you enjoyed Hope Springs and want to know a bit more about how it was made, then this extra is worth a visit.

An Intimate Look at the Making of Hope Springs is a cute name for a rather ordinary 12-min featurette that's at least worth a look for some behind-the-scenes tidbits if you can't be bothered listening to the director's commentary. The 8-min An Expert's Guide to Everlasting Passion gives the author of one of those relationship self-help books the chance to give his advice on how not to end up like in a marriage that resemble's Kay and Arnold's.

The film's three stars get an opportunity to talk about the film in a pair of 4-min interview featurettes - The Doctor is In: Steve Carrell is Dr. Feld and Inside the Perfect Marriage: Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones. Meanwhile, The Passionate Performer allows the rest of the cast and crew to gush about how great Meryl Streep is for the best part of 7-mins. Rounding out the extras are four alternate takes (with optional director's intro), a gag reel and the trailer.
Extras rating: 3.5/5

We say: Flawless Full HD visuals, pleasing lossless audio and some entertaining extras makes this romantic-drama well worth a look for the more mature Blu-ray connoisseur.

Momentum Pictures, Region B BD, £20 approx, On sale now
HCC VERDICT: 4/5