We first meet Doris Miller (Field) at her mother’s funeral, who Doris has spent her whole life caring for, at the expense of living her own life. Then when Doris meets John Fremont (Greenfield), her company’s handsome and young new art director, sparks fly – at least for Doris.

After attending a self-help seminar, Doris throws caution to the wind and follows her heart for the very first time. With the help of her best friend’s 13-year-old granddaughter, Doris mines the Internet for information on her new one-and-only, and begins showing up at John’s regular haunts, where she quickly wins over his friends.

Her new life brings Doris a thrilling perspective, but also creates a rift between her and her long-time friends and family, who believe she’s making a fool of herself over a guy half her age.

This movie is awkward to watch – but in a good way. You just feel so bad for Doris (and hope to God that she gets a makeover), while at the same time cringing as you remember your own teenage crush and the lengths you went to to get noticed. Sally Field is, as always, the shining star of this movie, as the late-bloomer who opens herself up to new experiences in her pursuit of love. She is well-supported by an excellent cast of familiar faces in a movie that is not your typical rom-com.

Recently widowed Marnie Minervini (Sarandon) has just moved from New York to Los Angeles to be nearer her screenwriter daughter Lori (Byrne). However, this is not good news for Lori, as Marnie is continuously dropping by and giving unwanted advice.

After some boundaries are set, Marnie turns her attention to other people more open to her helping hands, including an Apple Store salesman who is considering studying law, a friend of Lori’s who never got the storybook wedding she wanted, and an ex-motorcycle cop/film extra (Simmons) who takes a romantic interest in her.

Writer-director Scafaria has admitted that The Meddler is autobiographical, and you certainly get the sense that she has lived every minute of it. It does feel a little disjointed at first, with no real through-story, but by the end, you find yourself feeling the emotions of the main characters. This is aided, of course, by the presence of accomplished actors like Sarandon, Simmons and Byrne, especially when any two of them are on screen together.

It’s a modest movie by most measures, and nowhere near the broad comedy that its title suggests. If you’re feeling like the type of movie that just gives you a big hug, then this is the movie to see – and maybe bring your mum along too.