The Land of Steady Habits

By: Ashlee Dell

In the mood for a witty dramedy about midlife crisis or what to expect in your 50’s? Nicole Holofcener’s latest feature about to drop on Netflix is just that.

The Land of Steady Habits follows Anders Hill (Ben Mendelsohn) as he is stumbling after recently divorcing his wife, Helene (Edie Falco), and leaving his comfortable job in finance. Although he is the one who left her and gave her the also-comfortable suburban Connecticut 5-bedroom house, he finds out that his wife has already long moved on. Cue midlife crisis.

While at a party that his ex-wife also happens to be at he meets and befriends a teenage boy, Charlie (Charlie Hahn). Charlie is struggling with drug addiction, but Anders likely befriends him due to the similarities with his 27-year-old son, Preston (Thomas Mann), who still lives at home and also had drug problems in high school. Oh, and Charlie is also the son of Anders’ ex-wife’s best friend. They form an unlikely bond and get high together at the party, which does not turn out well and somehow Anders is one of the only people with which Charlie can relate.

The film follows Anders navigating life after divorce while those once close to him take sides, which leads to a path of destruction. However, throughout the course of the film, the moments between characters become that much better and at sometimes-very entertaining to watch.

The Netflix feature stars an all-star cast as Edie Falco and Ben Mendelsohn deal with all-too-common family drama. Connie Britton also supports, although her character could have been used more.

The Land of Steady Habits is latest of Nicole Holofcener’s feature films, her last since Enough Said (2013). Holofcener does a great job not only with the story and character development, but also in the faint bits of comedic relief throughout. Not to mention the dialogue. The characters feel like real people and people to which we can all relate.

The Land of Steady Habits will be released on Netflix on September 14.

Final Grade: B+