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Just as her thick eyeglasses turn her brown eyes into saucers, Susan Sarandon magnifies all angles of her worrywart mother character, the titular Meddler.
In the long wake of her husband's death, Sarandon's Marnie is a boundary obliterator dogging her screenwriter daughter (Rose Byrne). The incessant voicemails are hard to take, but Sarandon's unmistakable gentleness is a crucial obstruction to The Meddler, saving clueless Marnie from any harsh judgement.
From writer-director Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World), the script's bones are a meaningful reversal of mother-daughter grief and recovery, but they're forced to support Blues Traveler cameos, a weed-eating gag and a clique of Angeleno bridesmaids.
Like a daughter to her prying mother, the film should toss up a palm to broad comedy tropes and ask to live its life.
Rated PG-13.
Critic's Grade: C
Willamette Week
