I loved this film. Nicole Holofcener (the writer and director who gave us the underrated Lovely & Amazing) writes fantastic roles for women. A film with this much respect for its characters and their extended, often hilarious, and at times brutal conversations is rare and to be cherished. And the performances are outstanding. I found Rebecca Hall amazing in particular as a quiet, sad mammogram technician caring for her ailing, acerbic grandmother (Ann Guilbert) and unable to define and express herself. I hope she is remembered come awards season.

A-

Please Give is a wonderful joy to watch, as even though the two groups here have some problems with one another especially in the first two-thirds, they still work well together and some acting is very strong. The story can be easily related to by the angles of those who've had annoying neighbors, those who want to have a little fun outside the one they're married to, or even just relating to the death of a loved one. The bickering early on is not overdone and actually adds a bit to the film's enjoyment. Catherine Keener and Rebecca Hall are the strongest assets to the film though Keener's constant attention to the homeless is a bit too repetitive and at least the film somewhat addresses this near the end. The daughter's storyline also seemed completely unnecessary to the film and just seem to point out so many nagging problems teenage girls can come up with. Outside of it's few downfalls, Please Give is a truly sweet piece with nice laughs and a warm message at the end. ***

I loved this! Funny, smart, well-acted. This was one of Amanda Peet's best roles since her fantastic breakout role in "The Whole Nine Yards." Nicole Holofcener is one of the best writers for women out there. She never fails to impress me.

8/10 (A-)