When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story (TV Movie 2010)

When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story: Directed by John Kent Harrison. With Winona Ryder, Barry Pepper, John Bourgeois, Rosemary Dunsmore. Based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

“u0026quot;When Love Is Not Enoughu0026quot; is a film of a very specific style. That sort of style most commonly seen in films which consider the most effective way to depict a period drama is in mimicking the film-making style of said period. If you can swallow all the tear-jerking music and glossy cinematography, you will certainly appreciate the story better. But I found myself aching for a little bit more grittiness. Even much older alcoholic dramas such as u0026quot;The Lost Weekendu0026quot; or u0026quot;Days of Wine and Rosesu0026quot; had a degree of emotional intensity not quite present here. Then again, this is a TV movie, and similar expectations are not necessarily in play.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWinona Ryder and Barry Pepper are two of my favorite actors. They donu0026#39;t disappoint here. Pepper (as Bill Wilson) is appropriately pathetic for the better half of the film, believably drunk and unhinged. Ryder (as Billu0026#39;s wife, Lois) is given somewhat less to work with. Some of her dialogue during the more intense arguments is so wordy and roundabout that she seems tied between losing her breath and keeping a straight face. Both of which tend to get in the way of projecting emotion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s a good enough film. The story takes you through the events of Bill and Loisu0026#39; married life, always without making you feel like itu0026#39;s arbitrary or scripted out. The unfortunate side is how John Kent Harrison doesnu0026#39;t offer anything at all outstanding with his direction. The look is flat, clean, ordinary. He sometimes uses off-kilter angles in the composition, which is always distracting and immediately makes one think of 1960s television shows. Harrison prevents the actors from pushing further than expected, and gives nothing but limitations to the production.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the end, this is probably worth watching. The actors give enough guts and passion to make it worth your time. Itu0026#39;s nothing to subvert even the lowest of expectations, but you get the sense that everyone tried their best. And thatu0026#39;s commendable, even when their best is not enough.”