Tumbledown

Sudeikis, often cast as genial everyman, is quite good in a more prickly role, and Hall brings her characteristic nuance to a smart but lost character.

That Tumbledown sort of works in spite of all its clichés is a testament to the gifts of its two lead actors.

Tumbledown comes up light in the categories that matter most, miring a capable cast in a forced cable-knit folksiness familiar to anyone who has ever watched anything set in New England.

So what's the problem? A hundred small annoyances, including storylines that peter out into inexplicable dead ends, others...that drone on too long, a dozen too many reaction shots from Hannah's dogs, important characters whose motivations are unclear, and a lack of romantic chemistry between Hannah (Rebecca Hall) and Andrew (Jason Sudeikis).

We’re meant to warm to Hannah and Andrew as they wear each other down with good-natured ribbing. But Ms. Hall and Mr. Sudeikis hardly warm up themselves, showing little chemistry and looking unsure how to play the film’s tone, or the would-be zingers.