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If I Were You

  • 2012
  • R
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Marcia Gay Harden and Leonor Watling in If I Were You (2012)
Trailer for If I Were You
Play trailer2:04
2 Videos
12 Photos
ComedyDrama

When a woman tries to outwit her husband's sexy young mistress, the unexpected consequences include starring as King Lear in a very amateur production--with the mistress, an aspiring actress... Read allWhen a woman tries to outwit her husband's sexy young mistress, the unexpected consequences include starring as King Lear in a very amateur production--with the mistress, an aspiring actress, playing The Fool.When a woman tries to outwit her husband's sexy young mistress, the unexpected consequences include starring as King Lear in a very amateur production--with the mistress, an aspiring actress, playing The Fool.

  • Director
    • Joan Carr-Wiggin
  • Writer
    • Joan Carr-Wiggin
  • Stars
    • Marcia Gay Harden
    • Leonor Watling
    • Joseph Kell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    2.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joan Carr-Wiggin
    • Writer
      • Joan Carr-Wiggin
    • Stars
      • Marcia Gay Harden
      • Leonor Watling
      • Joseph Kell
    • 32User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
    • 28Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    If I Were You
    Trailer 2:04
    If I Were You
    If I Were You
    Trailer 0:31
    If I Were You
    If I Were You
    Trailer 0:31
    If I Were You

    Photos11

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    Top cast34

    Edit
    Marcia Gay Harden
    Marcia Gay Harden
    • Madelyn
    Leonor Watling
    Leonor Watling
    • Lucy
    Joseph Kell
    Joseph Kell
    • Paul
    Daniela Saioni
    Daniela Saioni
    • Waitress
    Genadijs Dolganovs
    Genadijs Dolganovs
    • Store Clerk
    Jessica Booker
    • Mother
    Genevieve Kang
    Genevieve Kang
    • Office Assistant
    Gary Piquer
    Gary Piquer
    • Keith
    Kaitlyn Riordan
    • Sarah
    Leon Aureus
    • Tyler
    Jeff Elliot
    • Sam
    Beatriz Yuste
    Beatriz Yuste
    • Carla
    Vickie Papavs
    Vickie Papavs
    • Maggie
    Rhonda Hall
    • Neighbour Elizabeth
    Mairtin O'Carrigan
    • First Lear
    Michael Therriault
    Michael Therriault
    • Rainer (Director)
    Claire Brosseau
    Claire Brosseau
    • Regan
    Bethany Jillard
    • Cordelia
    • Director
      • Joan Carr-Wiggin
    • Writer
      • Joan Carr-Wiggin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    6.92.4K
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    Featured reviews

    9danbranan

    See this film!

    I only recently discovered this little gem on Netflix and I was really impressed. This independent film is everything that so many Hollywood films aren't (anymore): complex, interesting, challenging, funny. The acting (especially Marcia Gay Harden and Aidan Quinn) is excellent. Despite its 2-hour run-time and complex plot, it never bogs down. Director Joan Carr-Wiggin does an admirable job of keeping the story moving and relatable through all the twists and turns of the plot and subplots. In fact, the story itself mirrors the Shakespearean structure with intrigue, mistaken or confused identities, poignant subtext, etc. And to top it all off, there's no formulaic development or "Hollywood ending" to ruin the great story! This film is truly delightful and its a shame that it did so unbelievably poorly at the box-office. The critics have not done it justice, either, giving one-line reviews that make me wonder if they even watched it. If you check on Rotten Tomatoes, you'll see that the audience score is around 70%, while the critic's score is at 9%! Definitely a disconnect with reality, in my opinion. It's not a perfect film, and if IMDb allowed it I would have given it an 8.5, but it's certainly MUCH better than its critical ratings and box-office earnings indicate.
    7tickin

    Worth it

    I have to open by saying I've always enjoyed Marcia Gay Harden. But I was a little worried that comedy might not be her strength. I was happily wrong. She delivers a joke well, very well at times and she carries the 2 hour movie right through to the end. She puts her own style into it too, which is memorable.

    The movie is light entertainment but it's not irritating. It weaves it's own little path and pops out the other end with a smile on it's face. This is probably going to sound mean but the secondary characters were neither here nor there and only served as billboards for Marcia to graffiti. Though Aiden Quinn does carve out a few good moments for his character.

    But It's Marcia's show and she steps up well. Well worth it if you're perhaps on the upper side of 40 and looking for something light, funny and mostly clean.
    10Pidgey1

    Not your typical romance

    What you might expect from a movie about two women, one who is lovely, older, wiser, and not as firm, the other lovely, young and not very bright, except for when it comes to manipulation and adoration of the physical and the moment, would not be what you get in If I Were You . It's a movie that does not underestimate the buddy aspect of a romp, and it turns that inside out by using traditional methods, straight (wo)man, loose limbed physical comedy, and adds a dose of heartbreak not only in the realm of love, but in all relationships including friendship and parent child. It's an exceptional vehicle for Harden and one she readily deserves as she is overlooked and underused in so many ways.
    8rkhen

    Reminiscent of Neil Simon

    If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you'll recognise the Neil Simon pretense of this movie. Though it has neither the fast pace nor the wicked writing of a Simon production, it's well done and entirely worth an evening's light viewing.

    The depiction of a main character in an agonising predicament, but whose basic decency wins out time and again over her broken heart, is rare in popular culture, and brilliantly performed by Marcia Gay Harden.
    9robynartist

    An oddball romance with clever twists

    Loved it! I just stumbled upon this movie on new releases on Netflix and was watching it while working in my studio. It is funny without being cute, poignant at times without being maudlin and downright fun.

    I love the premise of the movie, the likes of which I've not experienced elsewhere - and heaven knows it's rare to find a new plot!

    Although Marcia Gay Harden steals the show, I think the other actors effectively support her lead.

    I don't often watch any film more than once, but I would watch this again with someone who's seeing it for the first time, for sure. The last romantic comedy that fit this category for me is Love Actually, which is one of the few movies I own and enjoy watching periodically.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Joseph Kell (Paul) and Valerie Mahaffey (Lydia, who believes Paul is gay for her husband Keith) are married in real life.
    • Quotes

      Lucy: Can I ask you a favor? If I just get brain damage, do you promise to hold a pillow over my face?

    • Connections
      References Fatal Attraction (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Il Vazer Dei Bambini
      Composed, Orchestrated, and Conducted by Paolo Buonvino

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    FAQ16

    • How long is If I Were You?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 12, 2021 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Если бы я была тобой
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Paragraph Pictures
      • TallTree Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $9,432
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,889
      • Mar 17, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,432
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 55m(115 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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