Moving On (2023)

Moving On is special because it lets two legends—Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin—turn a thorny, painful premise into something oddly life-affirming, powered by their effortless chemistry and the kind of timing you can’t fake. Paul Weitz gives them room to be hilarious and human in the same breath, finding sharp comedy in the indignities of aging while still taking long-buried hurt seriously. The vibe is tart and bittersweet, a grown-up dramedy that keeps you leaning in for the next cutting line and the next unexpected moment of tenderness. It’s not for everyone—its central trauma is discussed plainly and the emotions can run hot—but if you want a smart, actor-driven film about friendship and reckoning, this one’s a bracing, satisfying watch.

Moving On wants to be a cathartic, late-in-life revenge dramedy about trauma, friendship, and finally saying the unsayable, and you can feel Paul Weitz aiming for something both funny and healing. The problem is it can’t pick a lane: it lurches between dark comedy bits and heavy, detailed discussion of assault in a way that may feel awkward rather than empowering, and the pacing/structure can seem oddly stitched together. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are the clear reason to watch—there’s real spark and bite when they’re trading lines—but the script often doesn’t give their talent a story as sharp as they deserve. If you’re looking for a consistently funny crowd-pleaser or a tightly built revenge thriller, this may frustrate you; if you can tolerate tonal whiplash for two legends and a few satisfying moments of confrontation, it might still be worth your time.