It’s always an interesting experiment to watch performers best known for their comedic work attempt something at the opposite end of the spectrum, and Kristen Wiig turns in a wonderfully nuanced and understated performance in Hateship Loveship. Adapted from a short story by Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro, the film stars Wiig as Johanna, a plain Jane housekeeper recently employed by a grumpy local businessman (Nick Nolte) to cook and clean for himself and his granddaughter, Sabitha (Hailee Steinfeld). Her first day on the job results in a chance encounter with Sabitha’s father, Ken (Guy Pearce), a recovering drug addict visiting from Chicago and attempting to borrow money from the old man.
A letter from Ken arrives a few days later, thanking Johanna for watching over the girl. Johanna’s request for Ken’s return address inexplicably drives Sabitha and her best pal to begin fake correspondence with Johanna, cruelly convincing her that Ken is developing a romantic interest and would very much like for her to come visit him in the Windy City. It’s a terribly mean-spirited game, leading to a heartbreaking, humiliating rendezvous, and robs Steinfeld’s character of any redeeming qualities. Regardless of her intentions or motivations, this sort of thing is inexcusable.
To say that Hateship Loveship moves slowly would be to greatly understate the film’s glacial pace. Viewers should stock up on patience, and most will find it worn thin by the bland, underdeveloped characters and the complete lack of plot progression. But despite the shortcomings, of which there are many, the experience is worth it for Wiig’s performance alone. She seems miles away from her comfort zone, yet strangely at home in Johanna’s plain, unassuming skin. Hopefully we’ll see more roles like this in Wiig’s future – and hopefully they’ll exist in better films than this one.