6.4 stars.
I have one word to describe this movie: spasm. A rich woman loses everything because she signed a prenup and now she's out of luck. Next thing she's back in Jersey living at dad's.
It is very difficult to sympathize with a character that is so unlikable and spastic. She seems nice underneath the snooty exterior but it takes a long time before we are graced with a decent personality trait.
The people who work at her father's bakery are endearing and fun, and that's what makes 'The Sweeter Side of Life' tolerable. Several group scenes are humorous and lively, as the synergy of the whole gang together brings the laughs. The whole New Jersey vibe is authentic, except real accents are strangely absent. People in Jersey say stuff differently, like water is wuh-der, or worter, and vowels are stretched and slurred. "No" is more like naow and "bright" is bruh-eat.
Does she have to be so shrill all the time? The nasty attitude creates conflict for the viewer's experience, because her character is too convincingly aristocratic and stiff. Soften her up 25 minutes sooner and this becomes a much better picture. I'm pushing 90 minutes and there's no redemption in sight.... I really liked her in 'Cold Case'. That show was brilliant and accommodated her acting style. She's like a fish out of water in this film.
