March 3, 2026
FILM: FOR WORSE
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: AMY LANDECKER
STARRING: AMY LANDECKER, BRADLEY WHITFORD, NICO HIRAGA
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There’s a lot to admire about actor Amy Landecker’s feature-length directorial debut For Worse. It follows the tropes of the standard rom com, which is produced less than it used to be, and makes them feel fresh and alive. The director also wrote the script and stars in the lead role, which is an impressive accomplishment. Landecker has been a staple of films and television for over twenty years. She’s probably best known for her roles in the Coen Brothers’ film A Serious Man and the TV series Transparent. In both cases she played assured characters that go for what they want. In For Worse, her character Lauren may not be as assertive, but she is also unwilling to settle for whatever comes along just after a divorce. While her journey may be predictable Landecker makes it enjoyable from start to finish.
Now that Lauren’s ex-husband has moved on to a young yoga instructor/influencer, Lauren has at least one new plan for herself. On the day divorce papers are signed, she begins an acting for commercials class, run by a no-nonsense instructor, played by Landecker’s former Transparent castmate, Gaby Hoffman. The other students are significantly younger than Lauren, including a man named Sean (Nico Hiraga) who takes a fancy to her. Ready for something new, Lauren goes for the guy who is depicted as a twentysomething dude with a nice head of hair and a decent body.
When Sean asks her to accompany him to the wedding of one of their classmates, further sparks ignite. It becomes clear though that this younger group of people with their own slang, pop cultural references, and pronouns may be operating in a different world than Lauren. During the weekend she also meets another guest, played by Ken Marino, with his own quirks and Bradley Whitford (another Transparent alum) as another recently divorced middle-aged man with his own issues.
It's not hard to see where some of these relationships are going. Lauren, at the age of 50, must make her own adult decisions about whether she wants anything out of these men. That’s what viewers will probably really like about the character and the film. Lauren’s arc reflects her current place in life as a middle-aged woman. We get to ride the wave with her and it’s a fun one. The tone of the film is light but not silly. It’s the kind of adult comedy that Hollywood used to make decades ago but that are now relegated to the indie film world. A whole generation of people in their middle age will appreciate what Landecker attempts to do here: make something that is filled with genuine twists and emotions.
It also helps that Landecker is great as Lauren. She has a unique comic sensibility that is much more vulnerable than some of the other characters she has played. As such, she’s more relatable and down to earth. She also surrounds herself with a knockout ensemble of actors who create characters that feel lived in. Ken Marino is particularly funny in his few scenes as Rick, a man who lets it be known how successful he is as a magician and has no hesitation in professing his attraction for Lauren. Gaby Hoffman is fierce as acting teacher Liz and Bradley Whitford is a man trying to pull himself out of his own dark period following his divorce. These actors are all pros for sure, but Landecker does a solid job of reeling them in and allowing some of their best qualities to shine in their roles.
There’s no doubt that one might feel they’ve seen variations of this story before but that’s okay. Landecker makes us happy to see a mature rom com that also feels hopeful again.
For Worse is now playing theatrically in New York and Los Angeles. It expands to other cities, including Chicago, this Friday.
FILM: FOR WORSE
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: AMY LANDECKER
STARRING: AMY LANDECKER, BRADLEY WHITFORD, NICO HIRAGA
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There’s a lot to admire about actor Amy Landecker’s feature-length directorial debut For Worse. It follows the tropes of the standard rom com, which is produced less than it used to be, and makes them feel fresh and alive. The director also wrote the script and stars in the lead role, which is an impressive accomplishment. Landecker has been a staple of films and television for over twenty years. She’s probably best known for her roles in the Coen Brothers’ film A Serious Man and the TV series Transparent. In both cases she played assured characters that go for what they want. In For Worse, her character Lauren may not be as assertive, but she is also unwilling to settle for whatever comes along just after a divorce. While her journey may be predictable Landecker makes it enjoyable from start to finish.
Now that Lauren’s ex-husband has moved on to a young yoga instructor/influencer, Lauren has at least one new plan for herself. On the day divorce papers are signed, she begins an acting for commercials class, run by a no-nonsense instructor, played by Landecker’s former Transparent castmate, Gaby Hoffman. The other students are significantly younger than Lauren, including a man named Sean (Nico Hiraga) who takes a fancy to her. Ready for something new, Lauren goes for the guy who is depicted as a twentysomething dude with a nice head of hair and a decent body.
When Sean asks her to accompany him to the wedding of one of their classmates, further sparks ignite. It becomes clear though that this younger group of people with their own slang, pop cultural references, and pronouns may be operating in a different world than Lauren. During the weekend she also meets another guest, played by Ken Marino, with his own quirks and Bradley Whitford (another Transparent alum) as another recently divorced middle-aged man with his own issues.
It's not hard to see where some of these relationships are going. Lauren, at the age of 50, must make her own adult decisions about whether she wants anything out of these men. That’s what viewers will probably really like about the character and the film. Lauren’s arc reflects her current place in life as a middle-aged woman. We get to ride the wave with her and it’s a fun one. The tone of the film is light but not silly. It’s the kind of adult comedy that Hollywood used to make decades ago but that are now relegated to the indie film world. A whole generation of people in their middle age will appreciate what Landecker attempts to do here: make something that is filled with genuine twists and emotions.
It also helps that Landecker is great as Lauren. She has a unique comic sensibility that is much more vulnerable than some of the other characters she has played. As such, she’s more relatable and down to earth. She also surrounds herself with a knockout ensemble of actors who create characters that feel lived in. Ken Marino is particularly funny in his few scenes as Rick, a man who lets it be known how successful he is as a magician and has no hesitation in professing his attraction for Lauren. Gaby Hoffman is fierce as acting teacher Liz and Bradley Whitford is a man trying to pull himself out of his own dark period following his divorce. These actors are all pros for sure, but Landecker does a solid job of reeling them in and allowing some of their best qualities to shine in their roles.
There’s no doubt that one might feel they’ve seen variations of this story before but that’s okay. Landecker makes us happy to see a mature rom com that also feels hopeful again.
For Worse is now playing theatrically in New York and Los Angeles. It expands to other cities, including Chicago, this Friday.