Genre:
Comedy/Drama
DVD Release Date:
12th May 2014 (UK)
Rating: 18
Run Time
95 Minutes Approx
Director:
Jill Soloway
Cast:
Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple, Josh Radnor
Buy: Afternoon Delight [DVD]
Despite the trappings of a seemingly successful life, Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) has lost all sense of self, purpose and libido. To spice up her marriage, she and her husband (Josh Radnor) visit a strip club where they meet mesmeric sex worker McKenna (Juno Temple). Hoping to save McKenna, Rachel takes her home as a live-in nanny. Unsurprisingly, havoc ensues with comic-tragic results within Rachel’s family and her circle of friends.
We find ourselves seeing a typical middle class American family. One which looks happy on the surface, but underneath there is trouble. We meet Rachel, a woman who doesn’t seem to know what she wants in the world. She is part of that mother’s club, but doesn’t find it fulfilling, and she also seems to have a hard time connecting to her son and husband. She sees a therapist twice a week in order to try and work through her problems, but it isn’t working.
In order to try and spice up her life, she and her husband go to a strip club, where she becomes infatuated with a stripper, McKenna. Seeking her out, Rachel meet, and befriends McKenna, eventually welcoming her into the family home. This is where the real trouble begins.
The beginning of the “relationship” between the women works. With Rachel talking more to McKenna about her life than she does with her therapist. She is intrigued by the girl, and seems to find a connection with her that she doesn’t have with her own family. As the film goes on, it becomes clear that Rachel is trying to “save” McKenna, like something her and her mother’s group do. Trying to help those who are less fortunate than them. The thing is, McKenna is like a stray puppy. It seems well and good, and gives you the love and attention you need, but eventually, the stray bites back. Which is what happens in the crescendo of the movie. The “break up” of the two women is sign posted as the film goes through, with Rachel becoming more involved in McKennas world, and seemingly not liking it.
Kathryn Hahn plays the lead quite well, starting off with an innocence which eventually breaks down, especially near the end when she is having a drunken talk with her mother’s club. Juno Temple seems to be carrying on her tour de force of choosing/playing good/varied roles. The chemistry between the two seems to be that of mother/daughter but becomes a little bit more sexual midway through, and eventually breaks down as the film carries on. Josh Radnor doesn’t have much to do in the film, but really comes into his own at the end when it is just him and Kathryn Hahn.
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