I Smile Back

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, I Smile Back is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 126 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Sarah Silverman — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, I Smile Back is worth clearing space for. I Smile Back takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Laney is an attractive, intelligent suburban wife and devoted mother of two adorable children. She has the perfect husband who plays basketball with the kids in the driveway, a pristine house, and a shiny SUV for carting the children to their next activity. However, just beneath the façade lie depression and disillusionment that send her careening into a secret world of reckless compulsion. Sarah Silverman and Josh Charles lead a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. It was released in 2015. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

I Smile Back is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Sarah Silverman anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.

I Smile Back was released in 2015, directed by Adam Salky. The full 85-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.