This movie is about imperfect people fighting their way through terrible problems they've created for themselves. This includes Andy Garcia's character of the abused codependent husband dealing with an alcoholic manipulative wife. True, he is put upon, and true, he is loyal to his wife, but he is also pretty darn sanctimonious, and he uses his zeal for "fixing" his wife's problems to make himself feel in control. This helps him feel less terrified, just like his wife's drinking helps her feel less scared. I've read many condemnations of Meg Ryan's character, for her alcoholism and the way she treats her family, and all these things are true. She does some terrible things in this movie, but she tries to make things better, and it's a tough fight. That is what I think is true about the film. Life is hard, and it can be easy to get confused. We have all done things we are not proud of, including hurting people who love us. Still, we need love. This movie is more truthful about life than most.
Review of When a Man Loves a Woman
