A Little Bit of Heaven

A spoiler light review of A Little Bit of Heaven should begin with tone, because Nicole Kassell understands exactly how this comedy ought to feel. A Little Bit of Heaven gains early credibility from Kate Hudson, whose presence is balanced by the different rhythm of Gael García Bernal. The foundation of A Little Bit of Heaven can be stated simply: An irreverent young woman who uses her humor to prevent matters from getting serious has a life changing visit with her doctor. Within its 1h 46m running time, A Little Bit of Heaven reveals both the benefits and the limits of that disciplined approach.

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The directorial personality of A Little Bit of Heaven comes from Nicole Kassell remaining unable to turn workable ingredients into a stable rhythm when the premise invites excess. Within A Little Bit of Heaven, Nicole Kassell repeatedly favours readable choices over attention seeking flourishes. That discipline explains why the premise retains appeal even when the finished film struggles in A Little Bit of Heaven rather than appearing only in isolated scenes. Where A Little Bit of Heaven becomes less convincing, explanation repeatedly takes the place of discovery, and the loss of control is noticeable without becoming fatal.

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Rather than summarise every event in A Little Bit of Heaven, it is enough to note how the central character places an important relationship under growing pressure. Kate Hudson gives that tension a face, which stops A Little Bit of Heaven from becoming a mechanical sequence of developments. Gren Wells uses a difficult choice to widen the stakes of A Little Bit of Heaven without losing sight of the original problem. Where the wider conflict becomes predictable, A Little Bit of Heaven recovers interest through the consequences surrounding it.

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Kate Hudson approaches A Little Bit of Heaven with a useful mixture of commitment and restraint, making the role feel inhabited. Gael García Bernal provides A Little Bit of Heaven with an effective change of temperature whenever their character enters the scene. Even in limited space, Kathy Bates gives A Little Bit of Heaven another recognisable personality rather than a simple plot function. Nicole Kassell maintains a shared performance language across A Little Bit of Heaven, which matters when tone or pace begins to shift.

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A close look at A Little Bit of Heaven reveals how comic timing built around character carries information that the dialogue wisely leaves alone. Under the production banner of Davis Entertainment, A Little Bit of Heaven treats comic timing built around character as part of its storytelling grammar. Well judged reactions gives A Little Bit of Heaven a stronger sense of place within its United States context. The technical departments of A Little Bit of Heaven remain coordinated, so polish supports involvement instead of creating distance.

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What A Little Bit of Heaven has to say is rooted in embarrassment, status and the gap between confidence and reality. The experience of Kate Hudson carries that question through A Little Bit of Heaven without reducing the character to an example. The wider conflict helps A Little Bit of Heaven test the theme through consequence instead of explanation. When Nicole Kassell allows ambiguity to remain, A Little Bit of Heaven becomes more involving than a simple statement of intent.

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Overall, A Little Bit of Heaven amounts to a missed opportunity rather than a complete failure and should suit comedy fans who respond to personality and timing. The combination of Kate Hudson, Nicole Kassell and comic timing built around character gives A Little Bit of Heaven a specific identity. Although explanation repeatedly takes the place of discovery in A Little Bit of Heaven, the film recovers through craft and committed performance. For the audience it understands, A Little Bit of Heaven offers enough character to remain worthwhile after the immediate plot has faded.