Smashed Review - 3 Stars

“Smashed” tells the familiar story of an alcoholic couple—the wife decides she’s had enough, while her husband won’t quit drinking.  In the early 1960’s drama “The Days of Wine and Roses”, the  story goes the opposite way—the husband quits drinking and the wife can’t quit.  Either way it’s a dramatic poignant story. “Smashed” tells it again with an outstanding performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, a first grade teacher who begins the movie vomiting in front of her class full of kids.  At home, she and her husband Aaron Paul (from “Breaking Bad”) obviously love each other and love their good times.  But after too many binge nights, Mary Elizabeth finds help, from her school’s vice principal, who later hits on her in one of many cringe worthy moments. “Smashed” includes some nice cameo from Megan Mullally, Mary Kay Place, and the great Octavia Spencer from “The Help.”  Mary Elizabeth Winstead makes us care about her, even when her actions repel us, and she makes us care about her recovery, which takes and costs more than even we in the audience expect.   Does it deliver what it promises?  Indie drama with great acting.  Is it entertaining?  You care about the characters.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Well worth watching.