The latest rumination by writer-director Nicole Holofcener is loaded with great performances, sharp dialogue and an interesting premise—but it seems that filmmakers were ultimately afraid to jump in with both feet. But how can they? Most of Holofcener’s characters here—unlike those in her other three films—are really hard to get behind, and their motives are, at best, rather petty. This film would work best as a scene study for actors: Catherine Keener, Amanda Peet and Rebecca Hall are all great. But Holofcener’s acumen feels wasted in the service of characters that we wouldn’t want to know in real life. And we sure wouldn’t care about their problems.