Product: Prime
Rating: 4.0
Cast elevates "Prime" beyond basic plot points
"Prime" proves that a good movie is all in the execution. Not for nothing are Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts the reigning royalty of romantic comedies . . . there is a lot of craft that goes in to being so freakishly adorable."Prime" benefits from exquisite casting - Uma Thurman, as Rafi, is the perfect "romantic comedy" choice for a divorced 37-year old to catch the eye of a young romantic. Bryan Greenleaf, as David, gets overshadowed, but he is remarkably good as the young Jewish artist/stud who falls for Uma. And Meryl Streep, as David's mom and Rafi's therapist Lisa, proves (once again, as if it were necessary) that she is in the pantheon of Great Actresses with her subtle performance.As with every romantic comedy, there has to be some suspension of disbelief. The hyper-attractive Thurman and Greenleaf are just too good-looking for words, and yet they are your "average couple" in this movie. There is one hilarious scene that just would be impossible in the real world - David turns down an amorous Rafi's invitation to go to bed in order to play Nintendo. But in the hands of these actors, the scene still works.In a lesser movie, "Prime" would have been laden with too much in the way of Jewish stereotyping. Indeed, on the written page, Streep's domineering, hypocritical, hyper-Jewish Lisa would be an updated version of Butterfly McQueen. But instead, in the hands of Streep, Lisa emerges as a wonderfully flawed, loving, conflicted mother. As a result, the movie's Jewish jokes fall mostly on the side of good taste and big laughs - along the lines of the stereotyping in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Kissing Jessica Stein."A surprisingly good movie (I was prepared to hate it), "Prime" can be just what the doctor ordered if you are tired of the "same old romantic comedy" and want to see some of the new players in the genre.