How Sally Got Her Groove Back

You'll like (really like) Sally Field as the title character of the offbeat, charming dramedy "Hello, My Name Is Doris." Despite leading the ABC series "Brothers & Sisters" and steady film work in smaller roles, Field hasn't headlined her own movie for a long time, so it's nice to have her back in the spotlight.

"Doris" finds our heroine facing a major transition: restarting her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She inadvertently latches onto her younger coworker, John, played by Max Greenfield (wisely trading in his snarky "New Girl" affectations for a genuinely conflicted nice guy). They form an unexpected friendship that may hold something more. As Doris's family tries to force her to move on, we also see an amusing push-pull about what to do, courtesy of her best friend Roz (the always-delightful Tyne Daly) and Roz's teenage granddaughter. Naturally, Doris wants to find things in common with John, and the smart script goes for laughs not from the obvious age difference but rather from her accidental embrace by the hipster community. These trendsetters mistake her eccentric, everyday style as a statement of reclaimed vintage (so the joke's on them).

Field's comedic timing and dramatic chops are both still in fine form, and her facial expressions -- as endearing and exasperated as ever -- deserve shared billing. She usually plays outspoken, iron-willed and courageous women; as Doris, she builds a more quiet strength. Thanks to attentive directing and co-writing by Michael Showalter, Doris is never treated as flat nor as a caricature. Instead, Field breathes three-dimensional humanity into the performance, and I predict a nomination for her at all of the major film awards.

To top it off, we get a well-rounded supporting cast and an effective indie soundtrack. But does Doris get John? The ending is ambiguous, but the man isn't the point. Doris finally gets herself, and that's the most significant goal that she (and we) could ask for.