'Tiny Beautiful Things' review: Kathryn Hahn brings 'Dear Sugar …

MashableUpdated April 6, 2023, 10:03 AMA woman in a blue button-down shirt stands in the door to a bedroom, her mouth open in shock.A woman in a blue button-down shirt stands in the door to a bedroom, her mouth open in shock.

Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things lives up to its title, revealing beauty in everything from a purple balloon on a bus to glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to a bedroom ceiling. But by far the most beautiful thing about the series is Kathryn Hahn’s leading performance, which delivers a touching look at how we work through life’s messes, big and small. Hahn plays Clare Pierce, a woman whose life is mere inches away from rock bottom.

Her husband, Danny (Quentin Plair), and daughter, Rae (Tanzyn Crawford), have kicked her out and want nothing to do with her, and she’s on thin ice at her retirement home job. She also continues to grieve the loss of her mother, Frankie (Merritt Wever), who passed away during Clare’s senior year of college. (In flashbacks, Sarah Pidgeon plays young Clare.) A chance to improve her circumstances comes from the most unexpected of places: advice column “Dear Sugar.” No, Clare doesn’t receive any life-changing advice from Sugar.

She actually takes over writing the column for an old friend. Turns out that listening and responding to other people’s own struggles may be just what Clare needs to begin to heal. SEE ALSO: ‘Up Here’ review: A sweet musical series from the minds behind ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Frozen’

Tiny Beautiful Things adapts Cheryl Strayed’s book of essays of the same name.

A woman holds her daughter's chin while the two sit in a car. A woman holds her daughter’s chin while the two sit in a car.

Kathryn Hahn and Tanzyn Crawford in “Tiny Beautiful Things.” Credit: Jassica Brooks / Hulu

You may know author Cheryl Strayed from her memoir Wild, about her experience hiking the Pacific Coast Trail. She also wrote the advice column “Dear Sugar” for online literary magazine The Rumpus from 2010 to 2012. Her “Dear Sugar” essays were then published as a book, upon which Tiny Beautiful Things is based — somewhat.

Tiny Beautiful Things doesn’t attempt to adapt the essays themselves. Instead, the show weaves its material through a fictionalized version of Strayed’s life. Some elements of Clare’s experience line up with Strayed’s, such as her rural upbringing and the death of her mother.

However, the show in no way functions as a biography of Strayed. As Sugar, Clare receives letters asking how to handle marital problems, sharing worries about children, and more — all of which are issues plaguing Clare herself. The role of Sugar allows Clare to work through her own experiences and empathize with others, a process which Tiny Beautiful Things externalizes through copious voiceovers of the letters to Sugar as well as Clare’s responses.

These are lifted almost word for word from the original “Dear Sugar” columns, so each episode offers a new dose of deeply personal, moving writing. There are times when the voiceovers veer into overly sweet, conventional life-advice territory, while dialogue throughout tends occasionally toward the melodramatic. However, Tiny Beautiful Things course corrects with some devastatingly funny moments, including a rant about Chick-fil-A courtesy of Clare and a later send-up of writing retreats.

Kathryn Hahn and Merritt Wever shine in Tiny Beautiful Things.

A woman in a bathrobe and her daughter in pajamas celebrate in a living room decorated with Christmas lights. A woman in a bathrobe and her daughter in pajamas celebrate in a living room decorated with Christmas lights.

Merritt Wever and Sarah Pidgeon in “Tiny Beautiful Things.” Credit: Elizabeth Morris / Hulu

Tiny Beautiful Things‘ combination of humor and poignancy would not be possible without Hahn at the helm. She plays the messiness of Clare’s life with staggering clarity, making her an open book we can’t tear our eyes from — even when she’s doing something that makes us cringe, like an ill-advised hookup or a sweaty breakdown in front of her daughter’s friend. Pidgeon does great work as young Clare, too, with a performance that mirrors Hahn’s and sets up the major emotional connection between Clare and her mother.

As Frankie, Wever is the picture of kindness and patience — almost to the point of being too idealized, in some episodes. Still, some of the show’s most tragic moments occur in flickers of emotion across her face, such as when Clare doesn’t like a coat Frankie bought her for Christmas. In the present, moments like these tear Clare apart, reflecting in her scenes with Rae.

It’s clear she doesn’t want her daughter to repeat her mistakes, but given their strained relationship, how can Clare make amends? Mother-daughter relationships, those between Frankie, Clare, and Rae, make for the heart of Tiny Beautiful Things. Episodes often draw parallels between these pairings through flashbacks.

These flashbacks can sometimes be frustrating, as we don’t always get a firm idea of where in the past we are. However, given Tiny Beautiful Things‘ focus on recollection, this lack of a temporal anchor makes sense. Memory isn’t linear: It’s messy and heartbreaking, but it can also be cathartic. “Dear Sugar” gives Clare some much-needed catharsis, and by its conclusion, Tiny Beautiful Things, with its own dogged exploration of grief and love, ends up achieving a similar effect.

All episodes of Tiny Beautiful Things are streaming on Hulu Apr.

7.

Originally published April 6, 2023, 10:00 AM

farah listed on couponmatrix.ukhostingcouk listed on couponmatrix.uklaundrapp listed on couponmatrix.uksofa-club listed on couponmatrix.uksports-shoes listed on couponmatrix.ukand-other-stories listed on couponmatrix.uk
farah listed on couponmatrix.ukFarah's distinctive logo has played a part in numerous British cultural phenomena over the years, stemming mainly from hard-wearing properties not found in rival brands aimed at a similar demographic. Their trousers and tops look upscale enough to get you into any establishment, but won't be ruined by the odd drink stain - which explains why they're still highly sought-after. Use our Farah discount code to buy into this legendary brand at street-level prices, and you can join millions of happy customers who transcend the fashion cycle with a label that's so iconic it never needs to prove itself.
hostingcouk listed on couponmatrix.ukHOSTING.co.uk is a leading provider of web hosting services in the UK. They offer a wide range of services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, reseller hosting, and dedicated servers. They also offer a variety of features such as unlimited bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and more. HOSTING.co.uk has a reputation for being reliable and provide excellent customer support. Use a HOSTING.co.uk promo code to get the best savings on your next order! At Groupon, we understand that saving money is important to our customers. That's why we work hard to find the best HOSTING.co.uk promo codes and discounts codes so you can save on your next purchase. Whether you're looking for a shared hosting plan or a dedicated server, we'll help you find a great deal to make your life more comfortable. Check back often for the latest HOSTING.co.uk coupons and deals! If you're looking for a great deal on web hosting, be sure to check out HOSTING.co.uk. They offer a variety of plans to fit your needs, and you can often find a HOSTING.co.uk discount code to save even more. Their dedicated servers are a great option for businesses that need a high-powered server, and their reseller hosting plans are perfect for those looking to start their own web hosting business. Whatever your needs, HOSTING.co.uk has a plan for you - and we can help you save with a HOSTING.co.uk discount code today!
laundrapp listed on couponmatrix.ukLaundryheap has gone from strength to strength, offering a fantastic service that collects, cleans and delivers your laundry. There’s no better feeling than a freshly laundered wardrobe, and with Laundryheap achieving this has never been easier, so grab a Laundryheap discount code and get your laundry laundered for less. You can hand over up to 6kg of laundry at a time, meaning you can get your whole wardrobe clean in one fell swoop.
sofa-club listed on couponmatrix.ukSearching for a modern sofa that’s still really comfortable? Sofa Club is like fashion for your home, selling a wide range of sofas, armchairs and footstools in modern designs. Find your perfect sofa to put your feet up – even corner sofas, for the perfect fit no matter the shape of your room. With our Sofa Club discount codes and other money-saving tips, you’ll never have to worry about overpaying. Keep checking back for the latest Sofa Club offers.
sports-shoes listed on couponmatrix.ukWhether you’re a pro athlete, gym addict or looking to start your fitness journey, Sports Shoes has all the gear and expertise you need to achieve your goals. This is much more than just a shoe store - it’s a destination for expert advice and a whole community of like minded runners, jumpers and climbers! Make the most of Sports Shoes discount code to save big across a huge range of top-rated products, including equipment, clothing and footwear. With gear to cater to all ages, sports and styles, you’re sure to find the perfect fit!
and-other-stories listed on couponmatrix.ukA one-stop style destination, featuring clothing collections from Paris, Stockholm, and Los Angeles, & Other Stories has taken the fashion world by storm. Grab an & Other Stories discount code to cut the price of your haul and you could be dressed head-to-toe in fabulous fashion without busting your budget. Whether you’re a romantic Frenchie at heart, a confident California girl, or a pragmatic Scandinavian soul, you’re bound to find something to suit.