FOR WORSE

(director/writer: Amy Landecker; cinematographer:
Rebecca Baehler; editor: Jason Gallagher; music:
Peymon Maskan; cast: Amy Landecker (Lauren), Bradley Whitford (Dave), Nico Hiraga (Sean), Missi Pyle (Julie), Gaby Hoffmann (Liz), Kiersey Clemons (Maria), Ken Marino (Rick), Claudia Sulewski (Coco), Simon Helberg (Mediator), Liv Hewson (Esther), Paul Adelstein (Chase), Angelique Cabral (Sara), Chloe Cleary (Lucy), Caroline Miller (Kim); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Amy Landecker, Bradley Whitford, Valerie Stadler, Jenica Bergere, James Portolese; Brainstorm Media; 2025)

“It’s not a terrible film.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The directorial debut for the former actress Amy Landecker, who also wrote and stars in this mid-budget dramedy.

The 50-year-old Los Angeles residing Lauren (Amy Landecker) is a former actress, former alcoholic and a current real estate agent. She has just become divorced from Chase (Paul Adelstein). They have a daughter Kim (Caroline Miller). Chase’s new, much younger than him girlfriend, Sara (Angelique Cabral), is an influencer who hits it off with the adorable Kim, which upsets Lauren.

The frustrated Lauren joins an acting class to do TV commercials. It’s run by the humorless acting teacher Liz (Gaby Hoffmann). Lauren makes a love connection with the 20-something student Sean (Nico Hiraga) that makes her feel uncomfortable when they socialize with others.

She also meets another young student Maria (Kiersey Clemons), and in the third act meets Maria’s divorced father Dave (Bradley Whitford) at a wedding and they become a more realistic couple.

The big joke is when she pees in the bed when having sex with Sean.

It’s not a terrible film, but I never connected with it.

It played at the SXSW Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 6/2/2026  GRADE: C+
dennisschwartzreviews.com