The debut feature from Hallie Meyers-Shyer (daughter of Nancy Meyers, who produced) continues the family tradition for upbeat, female-led escapism. Like The Holiday, by Meyers Snr, this is both unapologetically contrived and rather satisfying, if unchallenging. Reese Witherspoon stars as Alice, a recent divorcee who has relocated to Los Angeles and turned 40, only to find herself besieged by attentive men in their 20s. After a boozy birthday celebration, she ends up with three attractive and obviously smitten aspiring film-makers living in her poolside guest house (as if the fact of having a poolside guest house alone wasn’t wish fulfilment enough). The material is elevated by Witherspoon’s resolutely perky appeal and Michael Sheen’s impeccable beard grooming and comic timing as Alice’s charming cad of an ex.
