‘Miss You, Love You’

By Anna Menta

If Miss You, Love You—a new original HBO film that began streaming on Friday—feels likes a play, that’s because it was originally written as one. The film was written and directed by Community star Jim Rash, and tells the story of a prickly, grieving widow (Allison Janney) who is understandably upset when her son sends along his people-pleasing assistant (Andrew Rannells) to help with funeral arrangements, rather than bothering to show up himself. Rash, inspired by his own father’s funeral, plays up the humor and awkward moments of the grieving process, while never diminishing the heartbreak. Janney and Rannells, both Broadway powerhouses, are a pleasure to watch in their vicious, hilarious back-and-forth. And at the heart of it all is a touchingly human story about love, sexuality, resentment, and letting go.

Photo: Jordin Althaus/HBO