Product Description

When Rafi (Uma Thurman), a 37-year-old single woman, meets David (Bryan Greenberg), a 23-year-old painter, it's love at first sight. But that love gets complicated - fast - when Rafi discovers that David is also the son of her therapist (Academy Award(r) winner Meryl Streep)! Professional help is about to get very personal in this entertaining and irresistibly charming hit that critics are calling "a funny and very sexy comedy" (Jess Cagle, WCBS/People Magazine).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11189 in DVD
• Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
• Released on: 2006-03-07
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 105 minutes

Amazon.com
Bolstered by an appealing cast and the comedic genius of Meryl Streep, Prime is an above-average "rom-com" that never stoops to compromise. The plot conceived by writer/director Ben Younger (Boiler Room) is a bit far-fetched, but once he's established that 37-year-old Gentile divorcee Rafi Gardet (Uma Thurman) is unknowingly dating the 23-year-old son (Bryan Greenberg) of her Jewish psychotherapist (played by Streep), the unlikely premise gets an intelligent workout, touching upon all of the issues that would realistically emerge as their dilemma is taken to its logical (or illogical) extremes. As a pair of genuinely devoted lovers in their sexual prime (hence the title), Thurman and Greenberg make this movie a constant joy to watch (and let's face it, Uma's utterly irresistible as an "older woman" who's looking for Mr. Right). But it's Streep's mastery of multi-layered expression and subtle comedic timing that makes Prime so engaging. Younger is also refreshingly resistant to easy solutions and conventional feel-good sentiment; he constantly steers Prime toward a sensible examination of a hazardous romance, never insulting the intelligence of his characters or his audience. The result is a mature, honest relationship comedy that never feels forced, but still offers plenty of good, solid laughs. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

A romantic comedy about two lovers in their sexual "prime"
A comedy of errors and age differences, "Prime" (referring to a man and woman's sexual prime which are at different ages) is a clever film that didn't play well in theaters. Perhaps it got lost in the glut of holiday event movies or the lack of buzz because that's too bad. While it isn't a great romantic comedy it has charm and a great comedic performance from Meryl Streep as well as appealing performances (and chemistry)from Uma Thurman and Bryan Greenberg.

Rafi (Uma Thurman)is mired in a messy divorce that's taken all of the joy out of her life. Until she meets David (Bryan Greenberg)a man 14 years her junior living with his grandparents. Her therapist Lisa Metzger (Meryl Streep)is pleased for her until she realizes that the stories that Rafi's been relating about her new love is about her son. While the film does occasionally steer into sitcom territory the appealing cast and performances keep the film on course most of the time.

"Prime" looks very nice in this widescreen transfer. For those who hated widescreen there's also a separate full screen release available as well. The special features are quite limited and could be better. While we get a decent commentary track from the director and producer, I'd rather hear the cast talk about their characters and in particular hear about the experience of Thurman and Greenberg working together in this romantic comedy with Streep. We get a standard "making of" featurette where the director discusses his inspiration (one of those hit-by-lightning moments when he wondered what it would be like if the girl he was dating was seeing his mother a therapist and neither one knew about the other). This romantic comedy certainly deserved more inspired featurettes--what about one on the trials and tribulations of women dating younger men?

While the film isn't perfect it's entertaining and has a marvelous comedic performance from Streep as well as great chemistry between Thurman and Greenberg on screen. "Prime" is an appealing romantic comedy that isn't a bad way to spent an afternoon.

Love is Not Just a Four-Letter Word
This is one of those one-of-a-kind comedies. It's sexy, hilarious, bittersweet and realistic. Superb performances by Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep and Bryan Greenberg add so much credibility to the plot and the sweetness of the story.

When 23-year-old David (Bryan Greenberg) who comes from a traditional Jewish family falls in love with 37-year-old Rafi (Uma Thurman), a sexy divorcee that believes in Christ, hell and heaven break lose. David's mother (Meryl Streep) is Rafi's therapist who helps her through her divorce and her relationship with this new flame, this young buck for whom she's head over heels. David's mom soon realizes that the man her patient is in love with is her own son. Confused with hilarity (Meryl Streep is fantastic playing a Jewish mama), she tries to be fair to both her patient and her son.

This is a film for everyone that's ever been in love. It's sweet, heartwarming and love affirming. Go see it.

Would that more Romantic Comedies be this Honest!
PRIME is one of those films that perhaps viewing the DVD comments by the cast and crew first before watching the film would enhance the appreciation. This is a solid little work by writer/director Ben Younger who has created a story, somewhat autobiographical, and engaged the interest and devotion of some very fine actors to bring off this simple but very honest view of love and its permutations.

Rafi (Uma Thurman) is a recently divorced, successful fashion worker (she sets up camera shoots for high fashion photographers) who is in therapy with the sensitive and understanding therapist Liza Metzger (Meryl Streep) who supports Rafi's need for love and encourages her to put her bad marriage behind her and find someone who will appreciate her. Reluctantly re-entering the dating scene Rafi meets young artist-wannabe David Bloomberg (Bryan Greenberg) and a chemistry develops between them that eventually results in their meaningful bonding. There are problems to face: Rafi is a 37-year-old Gentile divorcee and David is a 23-year-old Jewish unemployed kid. But the biggest problem is that Rafi's therapist and David's mother are one and the same person! Lisa is conflicted, wanting to provide on-going therapy for Rafi whom she sincerely cares about while insisting that David marry a Jewish girl and not be involved with an older woman! The manner in which this problematic triad is worked through, and it is a bumpy ride, is the story of the film.

The atmosphere of this on the surface illogical story is so well realized - the Jewish family scenes are very funny, the warmth of the relationship between Rafi and David say a lot about love despite hurdles, the inner struggle Lisa faces with her own therapist - that the movie is a natural joy to watch. Meryl Streep gives a fine turn as Lisa, and Uma Thurman and newcomer Bryan Greenberg deliver a wholly credible couple with a fine screen chemistry. This is far more than the usual 'chick flick': this is a little look at human interactions, sensitively related by a fine cast and crew and a film that deserves serious attention as what Romantic Comedies can really be. Recommended. Grady Harp, March 06