Maggie's Plan (2016)

Maggie’s Plan is a rare romantic comedy that treats adulthood like the complicated, funny, slightly bruising thing it is—less about “the one” than about the messy geometry of love, ego, and good intentions. Rebecca Miller’s writing has a bright, literary snap, and Greta Gerwig makes Maggie’s optimism feel both endearing and quietly brave as the movie glides from breezy banter into sharper emotional truths without ever turning mean. Ethan Hawke is perfectly, painfully human as the kind of man who can talk about sensitivity while still being a walking blind spot, and Julianne Moore steals scenes with a fearless, hilarious performance that gradually reveals unexpected tenderness. It’s not for viewers craving a neat, swoony fairy tale, but if you like smart, offbeat relationship stories that surprise you with how honest they are, this one is a delight.

Maggie’s Plan is aiming for a modern screwball-romantic comedy with adult messiness, where smart people make selfish choices and then try to “fix” them with even smarter schemes. When it works, it’s genuinely funny and perceptive, and Julianne Moore in particular turns neurotic brilliance into something oddly human. The problem is the movie’s tone and structure can feel like they’re constantly renegotiating the rules—quirky one moment, emotionally sincere the next—so the pacing wobbles and the whole thing doesn’t always cohere into a satisfying arc. If you like talky New York relationship comedies and can roll with a deliberately contrived setup, you’ll probably enjoy the performances; if you want tight storytelling, consistent tone, or big romantic payoff, this may test your patience.