Film - 5.1/5 - Here Today - 2021

 

Here Today is a 2021 American comedy-drama film directed and produced by Billy Crystal, from a screenplay that he wrote with Alan Zweibel. It stars Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, and Louisa Krause. The film was released on May 7, 2021 by Stage 6 Films.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie Burnz is walking to work. He keeps reminding himself of the directions he needs to take, demonstrating that his memory isn’t strong. He arrives at the studio where he has a storied career as a successful comedy screenwriter. Later, after sitting in on a pitch meeting, Charlie goes to lunch to meet someone who won a lunch date with him at an auction. Charlie meets Emma Payge. She explains that her cheating ex-boyfriend won the auction and Charlie is his hero. By taking his lunch date, she gets a measure of revenge. 

The two take a liking to each other, but after Emma eats shellfish, she gets a severe allergic reaction. Charlie accompanies her to the hospital where Emma claims he is her adoptive dad. Charlie gets stuck with the hospital bill and later has to inject some medication in Emma’s butt. He ends the day having enjoyed himself but assuming that will be the last he sees of Emma.

 

 

Emma finds where Charlie lives and visits to pay half of the money of the hospital bill. While chatting in Charlie’s house, Emma sees that Charlie has an unfinished novel and also pinned pictures and the names of his family on a corkboard and realizes that it’s a sign that Charlie's memory is deteriorating.

 

 

Charlie meets with his physician where it is revealed that he has early stages of dementia. Charlie hasn’t told his family, which includes his two children Rex and Francine and his granddaughter Lindsay. Nor has he told his employer. That night, Charlie attends a reception of one of his most successful movies. He is being interviewed by Bob Costas, along with the film’s director Barry Levinson and lead actors Sharon Stone and Kevin Kline. 

During the interview, Charlie forgets the names of his fellow panelists but plays it off as a joke. After the reception, Charlie is surprised to find Emma waiting for him. She attended to support Charlie, whom she now genuinely likes. She also repays the rest of the money from the hospital visit.