Enough Said (12A)

Directed by Nicole Holofcener

4 Stars

In this, his very last film, the late James Gandolfini shows that he could play the romantic lead as convincingly as a tough mafia boss in this comic but sweet and gentle love story.

It's impossible not to fall in love with Gandolfini who, playing against type, steals the audience's heart as Albert, a shy and softly spoken television archivist who charms mother-of-one Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). She's a divorced masseuse who is facing life on her own for the first time as her daughter prepares to go off to university.

The plot thickens when Eva befriends new client Marianne (Catherine Keener), an elegant and sophisticated poet who is forever criticising and complaining about her ex-husband - who turns out to be Albert.

Gandolfini and Louis-Dreyfus make an adorable couple who vividly convey the awkwardness of getting to know somebody new both physically and emotionally. They are painfully funny to watch in this middle-aged rom com scripted by director Nicole Holofcener.

She again demonstrates an innate ability to balance pathos with humour in this whip-smart feature which deals with real-life issues and problems we can all relate to.

A delightful, bitter-sweet film and a fitting tribute to the departed Gandolfini.

Maria Duarte