‘Prime’ (2005) Review

Prime Synopsis: A career driven professional from Manhattan is wooed by a young painter, who also happens to be the son of her psychoanalyst.

Shortly after signing divorce papers, 37-year-old Rafi (Uma Thurman) meets David Bloomberg (Bryan Greenberg), a young artist fourteen years her junior. The two hit it off despite the age difference, and despite her reservations, Rafi is encouraged by her therapist, Dr. Lisa Metzger (Meryl Streep). Lisa soon discovers Rafi’s young lover, David, is her son, David, but she tries to push her discomfort aside to continue treating Rafi.

There’s a lot of promise in Prime. Examining the relationship between an older woman and a younger man, not to mention the ethical and moral dilemmas of one’s therapist. Rationally, it’s very clear that Lisa should have told Rafi that there was a conflict of interest when she realized Rafi’s David was her son David, but in order to keep the drama simmering for a bit longer, I get why the movie glossed over Lisa’s ethical (and maybe legal?) obligations.

Lisa wants David to marry someone his own age and someone within his own religion (Jewish). Rafi (who is not Jewish) wants a baby – is her relationship with David serious and mature enough for that kind of responsibility? These questions are explored, although not too deeply.

As usual, Meryl Streep is pretty great in this movie. Lisa is very reserved, a bit uptight, and frustrated in her desperate need to control David’s life. She could have easily been a very unlikeable character, but Streep gives her some vulnerability that softens the “tough, overbearing Jewish mother” stereotype.

Streep is also pretty damn funny in this, which is a relief since the romance between Rafi and David is actually a bit dull. I don’t know if it’s just the direction or if Thurman and Greenberg don’t have a lot of chemistry. I enjoyed Rafi and Lisa’s interactions much more than Rafi and David because, frankly, the women in this movie are much more interesting and complex than the men.

Prime is worth a watch, especially if you’re a Meryl Streep fan. It has its moments, and while it’s not as humorous as I would have liked, you should find the therapy sessions between Lisa and Rafi quite amusing, especially when Rafi starts describing how satisfying her sex life with Lisa’s son is. I’m glad I watched Prime, though ultimately, I found it to be a rather disposable comedy. Had its romantic leads been different, I might have enjoyed it more.

Watched: 01/19/2022
Notable Song: I Wish You Love by Rachael Yamagata