bobcolganrac Lovely film ! Wonderful comedy ! Clearly written/directed by a woman who understands feminine angst. This review is short. I am only writing it to express my appreciation for the film and its wonderful acting by Harden and company.Marcia Gay Harden's Madelyn is worth the price of admission itself against which Leonora Watling's Lucy holds her own. It is basically a two women play.....and does recall many of the earlier Broadway-inspired Hollywood productions which involve emotionally unwieldy triads. But is it hackneyed?--not at all. It's human drama which at its base never loses freshness nor its inherent humor and pathos.I enjoyed it. My wife enjoyed it. You'll probably enjoy it as well.

Roland E. Zwick Staid, even-keeled Madelyn gets the shock of her life when she discovers, quite by accident, that her husband of many years is cheating on her with a much younger woman. Then, through a series of complicated events, she winds up as the confidante and adviser to her husband's mistress who has no idea who Madelyn is. In fact, the two women both make a pact - Madelyn with full knowledge of what she's doing and Lucy wholly in the dark - that they will leave all their major life decisions up to the other person - an ostensibly more dispassionate and objective person - so as to avoid incurring any more self-inflicted mistakes in their lives.Written and directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin, "If I Were You" plays much like a modern-day Feydeau farce, its humor based on a complex web of interconnected coincidences, misunderstandings and strategically withheld information. It's a clever, insightful little comedy that, by carrying its ironies and implausibilities to an almost absurd level, manages to make us face - and, even more amazingly, laugh at - just how real and cutting the pain caused by infidelity, romantic relationships and even platonic friendships can be. But the movie also deals with such heady themes as deceit, betrayal, hypocrisy, self-worth and a woman's place in the world, all without breaking a sweat. In fact, this becomes a growth experience for Madelyn who soon learns that she has a purpose and identity of her own apart from wife to a cheating husband.It's true that the movie sometimes feels like it's a beat or two off in its more broadly comic moments (especially early on the film) and the ending rates as a bit of a cheat and copout, but those weaknesses are easily overlooked amidst fine performances by Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Watling, Joseph Kell and Aidan Quinn and an overall wisdom about how life works.

sandranord This is one of the best comedies I have seen in years - I go to the movies a lot! The writing is smart, philosophical, quick witted. The plot comes up with surprise after surprise. You cannot predict the next move at all. The film is laugh-out-loud funny. The audience will put themselves in the shoes of these wonderfully rich characters and go through a fun emotional journey. Zany but plausible! The acting is stellar. I've always been a big fan of Marcia Gay Harden so I am thrilled to see her in a film of this caliber. The big question is "Why isn't this film in more theaters? I accidentally stumbled on this film. If not for that, I never would have seen it. Why? Marketing people ... distribution people ... GET THIS FILM TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC! We need to laugh ... not AT people which happens so often in films these days ... we need to laugh along with the genius of this film!

allen_hahn This is one of the most entertaining and downright funny films I have been privileged to watch in the past several years. Plot twists and turns come fast and are unexpected. Marcia Gay Harden leads an impeccable cast of interesting, quirky and all too human characters that include Aiden Quinn. The writing is simply exceptional. The dialog is as witty and hilarious as it comes, and come it does, non-stop. Joan-Carr Wiggin, who is both writer and director, smashes this one clean out of the park. I doubt you'll find yourself glancing at your iPhone or Blackberry during this film. This film is but another vehicle that demonstrates the versatility, cleverness, and command that a seasoned actor like Ms. Harden can bring to a role. Watching the interaction of the actors is much like watching the intricately choreographed dance numbers of a Twyla Tharp. Once this goes into general release, expect to see Marcia Gay Harden walk away with a Best Actress Oscar.