Humor Me

Humor Me

Year: 2018

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: Sam Hoffman

Echo Score: 63
Comedy

A man nearing retirement finds himself emotionally detached from his family, struggling to connect with his adult son. Their relationship feels stagnant, leaving both feeling adrift and yearning for a deeper bond. Through humorous situations and heartfelt moments, they navigate the challenges of disconnection and the desire for understanding, hoping to find a way to move forward together.

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Timeline & Setting – Humor Me (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Humor Me (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New Jersey retirement community, Nate's father's home

Nate moves into his father Bob's retirement community in New Jersey, where daily life among residents frames the story. The Cranberry Bog Players' rehearsal space sits at the heart of the community, turning the home into a small theatre where old and new residents collaborate. The setting blends humor with aging, illness, and healing, showing how a neighborhood can become a stage for personal renewal.

🏡 Retirement community 🎭 Local theatre 🗺️ New Jersey

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:57

Main Characters – Humor Me (2018)

Meet the key characters of Humor Me (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Nate Kroll (Jemaine Clement)

A playwright who suddenly loses his job, wife Nirit, and home, and moves in with his father in a retirement community. He is resourceful and eager to rebuild his life through theater, even as he grapples with grief. Through rehearsals and late-night calls, he learns to lean on others and redefine family.

🎭 Theatre 💡 Creativity 🧭 Adaptability

Bob (Elliott Gould)

Nate's gruff but caring father, a retiree living in the community. He carries memories of his wife's battle with cancer and quietly mentors Nate while guarding a stubborn streak. His illness and hospital scare become a catalyst for Nate's reconnection with family and purpose.

🏡 Father figure 🎭 Theatre 🛡️ Protector

Connie (Annie Potts)

Bob's girlfriend, who uses marijuana to cope with chemotherapy. She supports Nate's theater project and brings warmth and pragmatic perspective to aging and change. Her presence adds humor and humanity to the community.

💊 Caregiver 💬 Supportive 🕊️ Companionship

Allison (Ingrid Michaelson)

A resident and musician connected to the theatre project; Dee's daughter who contemplates moving away to Seattle to teach music. She proofs Nate's manuscript and helps shape the production, bringing artistic insight and emotional depth to the story.

🎶 Music 🎭 Creative partner 🧭 Compass

Ellis (Willie C. Carpenter)

Nate's retired military boss who navigates the community with a mix of toughness and loyalty. He chases Nate on a golf cart and evolves from initial suspicion to guarded admiration, illustrating the friction and warmth between generations.

🛡️ Authority 🚗 Veteran 🧓 Elder

Zimmerman (Joey Slotnick)

A figure connected to the theatre world within the community; a former producer who previously pulled out of a project but later praises the Cranberry Bog Players' performance.

🎬 Producer 📝 Critic 🤝 Supporter

Nirit Kroll (Maria Dizzia)

Nate's wife, whose absence or estrangement anchors Nate's emotional journey and motivates his drive to rebuild his life through art and community.

💔 Estrangement 💞 Family 🧭 Reconciliation

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:57

Major Themes – Humor Me (2018)

Explore the central themes of Humor Me (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Art & Community

The Mikado rehearsal becomes a lifeline that reconnects residents to purpose and each other. Nate's directing ties together diverse personalities, turning a noisy, sometimes fractious group into a cohesive ensemble. The process demonstrates how art can unite a fractured community and spark personal growth.

🏥 Caregiving & Loss

The story threads care through illness and memory, with Connie coping through chemo and Bob facing health scares. The community supports the vulnerable while confronting mortality with humor. This arc deepens relationships and resilience, highlighting the fragility and endurance of family bonds.

💫 Second Chances

Losing his job, wife, and home pushes Nate to reinvent his life through theater and new connections. The project offers a path from despair to renewed purpose, blending professional ambition with personal healing. The narrative celebrates renewal when old structures give way to new opportunities.

🤝 Family & Reconciliation

Nate's bond with his father evolves from tension to collaboration as they navigate grief and aging together. Allison, Gabe, and others broaden the idea of family, bridging distances between France, Seattle, and New Jersey. The story centers forgiveness, shared dreams, and the healing power of honest connection.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:57

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Humor Me Summary

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Humor Me Summary

Humor Me Timeline

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Humor Me Timeline

Humor Me Spoiler-Free Summary

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Humor Me Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Humor Me

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