Amy Landecker shines in For Worse, a hilarious, relatable, and messy look at starting over. It’s a chaotic, inclusive, and heartfelt wild ride.
For Worse is a chaotic romp that explores the topic of divorce in a fun way, but also in a heartbreaking, truthful way. Written, directed by, and starring the charming Amy Landecker, we meet Lauren – a newly divorced, sober mother who is finally ready to stop playing the supporting role in everyone else’s life and start living her own. Even though I haven’t walked the specific path of divorce, there was something deeply, almost uncomfortably relatable about Lauren’s quest for a new lease on life.
Once she joins an acting class, in an effort to try something new, the movie really finds its heart. This is very early on in the film and truly sets the tone for what is to come. I absolutely loved watching Lauren build a makeshift family out of this group of younger, supportive, and genuinely kind people. There is a beautiful, inclusive spirit to this ensemble – featuring great performances by Kiersey Clemons and Nico Hiraga – that makes the world of the film feel modern and warm.
Amy Landecker delivers an incredible performance. Viewers will fall in love with her almost instantly as she embraces her flaws and struggles through life. Because of this, she is extremely relatable because nobody is perfect. While she is the star of the show, stealing every scene she’s in, the supporting cast is great as well.
Ken Marino is, quite frankly, deeply uncomfortable to watch as Rick – but that is exactly the point. He excels at playing characters who make your skin crawl just enough to keep you laughing. He leans into the cringe with such commitment that you can’t help but be impressed, even as you’re waiting for Lauren to run in the opposite direction.
Then there is Bradley Whitford as Dave. I’ll admit, at first, I wasn’t entirely sure what the point of his character was. He seemed just kind of be there – and be mad and rude the entire time. However, as the film progresses, he ultimately ends up bringing the true heart to the story.
The chemistry between Whitford and Landecker is incredibly natural, which makes sense, given that they are married in real life. That lived-in comfort between them translates beautifully to the screen; they have a shorthand and a spark that provides a necessary contrast to the messy, high-energy flings Lauren is navigating elsewhere. Every time they shared the screen, the movie felt more settled and emotionally resonant.
Let’s be clear: For Worse is genuinely hilarious. I found myself having several laugh-out-loud moments that helped me escape the stress of the real world for ninety minutes. Amy Landecker has a sharp eye for the absurdities of humanity, particularly the friction between Gen X sensibilities and Gen Z culture. This is the part of the story I really found myself relating to.
Lauren, despite her sobriety and her progress, finds herself spiraling into the behavior of a messy 25-year-old bridesmaid. While the scenes are funny, there is a relentless quality to the cringe comedy. At times, the story felt like a gauntlet of uncomfortable, awful situations stacked one on top of the other. As a viewer, I found myself rooting for Lauren so hard that it was almost painful to watch her stumble through one disaster after another without a moment to breathe.
For Worse is fast-paced and largely fun, though it does drag slightly in the middle of the wedding chaos when the second-hand embarrassment becomes a bit overwhelming. I found myself wishing the script gave Lauren a few more small wins along the way, rather than making her wait for the very end to catch a break.
But honestly? Any minor pacing issues or narrative frustrations were easy to forget because of Amy Landecker. She is so inherently likable and grounded that you’re willing to follow her into the deepest, darkest social trenches.
Overall Thoughts On For Worse
For Worse is a chaotic comedy that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. It’s a reminder that starting over isn’t a clean, linear process – it’s a series of awkward stumbles, bad decisions, and unexpected connections. Despite the relentless string of mishaps Lauren endures, the movie ends on a note of genuine hope.
It’s a fun, fast-paced ride that reminded me that even when you feel like you’re falling apart, you might just be falling into a new beginning.
About For Worse
Lauren, a newly divorced, sober mom, feels like she has a new lease on life after joining her first acting class and starting a fling with her hot, young scene partner. However, when they attend their Gen Z classmate’s wedding together, things begin to fall apart, and Lauren finds herself behaving like a drunk 25-year-old bridesmaid. Luckily after a disastrous night she stumbles into a new day and a new beginning.
For Worse is opening in theaters in NY/LA on February 27 and has its expanded release on March 6.