After an OK directorial debut, Michael Showalter, a former member of MTV’s beloved “The State,” returns with a buzzy sophomore effort starring the Flying Nun herself, Sally Field. Field is blissfully nimble as Doris, an awkward 60-something seeking love from a much younger colleague (Max Greenfield, who is wonderfully douchey as Schmidt on Fox’s “New Girl”).
Doris could have lost itself in the quirky wasteland of independent cinema without Field’s inveterate steadiness. Stories involving an electropop band and Brooklyn hipsters could come off as silly, discarded “Girls” subplots; instead, Showalter and co-writer Laura Terruso (she created the 2011 short film upon which this film is based) conjure up a gem littered with Walter Mitty-ish daydreams, naughty visual gags and prime Tyne Daly. Doris taking dating advice from a giggling 13-year-old is priceless. Doris is a sweet, little film in funny clothing you’ll enjoy meeting.
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