MOVIE TITLE: The Best You Can

This comedy/drama is available on digital platforms on November 25, 2025.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 43 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

The Best You Can is a quietly affecting, middle-age dramedy that reunites real-life couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick for the first time on-screen in over two decades.

Written and directed by Michael J. Weithorn, the film balances humor and heartache as it explores themes of aging, loneliness, and the unexpected connections that can bring new meaning to life. Michael J. Weithorn, best known for his television work (e.g., King of Queens), brings a sitcom sensibility at times, but he also leans into quieter, more reflective moments.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored. The film is definitely for older adults.
Profanity, multiple F-bombs, and some super crude texting
We see a man peeing in someone’s yard at night. He talks a lot about his prostrate issues and has to pee a lot.
Alcohol and cigarettes
A LOT of talk of “intimate relations”
Infidelity is portrayed

THEMES:

Aging
Marriage
Family and sticky relationships
Hope
Letting yourself and others down

THINGS I LIKED:

Who doesn’t love Kevin Bacon? He’s fantastic in this, and we even get to hear him sing a little and play the guitar. You can tell he loves it so much. You knew he has a band, right? That walk with endless swag and his smooth dance moves…It’s also really fun to watch him with his famous wife, Kyra Sedgwick. They both also co-produced the film. Sedgwick and Bacon bring a warm, lived-in chemistry to their roles, which is unsurprising, given their real-life marriage since 1988, but the film manages to make their connection feel fresh and earned. Critics note that their bond feels natural even when the script leans on familiar romantic-comedy beats.
Sedgwick, in particular, gives a grounded performance as a woman torn between her duties and her own emotional needs. Bacon’s character is sympathetic, charming, and quietly vulnerable.
Brittany O’Grady plays Kevin Bacon’s daughter who is trying to get a break in her singing career. She has a great voice in real life and we get to see her perform a few times.
We get to hear a lot of great music.
We see a funny cameo from Ray Romano.
I really enjoyed Heather Burns’ layered and deep performance of a daughter desperately grasping for time with her father.
Judd Hirsh’s portrayal of Warren is also a highlight, giving dignity and nuance to a man grappling with loss. His character is in his 80s, but in real life, he’s 90! Wow!
One of the film’s strengths is its honest treatment of aging, caregiving, and the regrets that come with lost time. The director doesn’t shy away from the more difficult realities of aging by counterbalancing them with humor, warmth, and an ultimately hopeful message. The way the film uses texting as a core vehicle for Stan and Cynthia’s growing bond feels very of-the-moment, capturing both the awkwardness and intimacy of modern communication.
The cinematography and score (by Kurt Farquhar) contribute to a warm, cozy feel.
Some of the most touching parts come in how the film handles regret and redemption. While the film may not break new ground plot-wise, its strength lies in the authenticity of its characters and relationships.
I love the message that everyone is just doing the best we can, so we need to show grace and patience with one another. The title comes from a line in the movie in the last few moments of the film. Sweet.
Keep watching during the final rolling credits for some great music with Kevin Bacon and Brittany O’Grady!

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

There are moments, though, where the tone feels uneven.
Many of the comic tropes are clichéd.
Some humor lands, but other moments are simply too inappropriate for my taste.
The story leans into conventional romantic-drama territory, so if you’re looking for big surprises or risks, this might feel a little safe.
Some people may think there are too many side stories, but I like that it showed real life, which is filled with busy, complicated lives and competing relationships.

FUNNY LINES:

“When did I fall off the edge of the earth?” – Warren Rand (Judd Hirsch)
“He’s older than me…older than most people.” – Cynthia Rand (Kyra Sedgwick)
“Actually, I identify as a mermaid.” – Stan Olszewski (Kevin Bacon)

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The Visitor (2007) with Richard Jenkins and Haaz Sleiman: https://amzn.to/4ij8S0g