Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish Become Unlikely Pals in Buddy Dramedy ‘Here Today’

Sandra Miska

Tiffany Haddish comes to Billy Crystal’s aid in dramedy “Here Today.” Crystal, who also directed the film, stars as Charlie Berns, an illustrious NYC comedy writer who finds himself struggling to hold on to his memories after being diagnosed with early-stage dementia. He tries to keep his condition from everyone, even his adult children, Rex (Penn Badgley) and Francine (Laura Benanti). An unexpected friendship with Emma Payge (Haddish), a struggling singer, leads to his receiving support that he didn’t even realize he needed.

For most of “Here Today,” Crystal doesn’t seem to stray too far out of his comfort zone, as Charlie is a respected guy in comedy. A writer with numerous accolades and 40 years of experience, he currently produces a late-night sketch comedy show. The character seems to be a combination of Crystal and Alan Zweibel, the former “Saturday Night Live” writer and sometimes actor with whom he co-wrote the screenplay, which was adapted from Zweibel’s semi-autobiographical short story “The Prize.” Just like in the film, Zweibel had lunch with a woman who paid only $22 for the pleasure at a charity auction, only to have to take her to the hospital and pay thousands of dollars for her medical bill after she had a severe allergic reaction.

In the film, Emma takes the lunch date from her cheating ex, a big fan of Charlie’s, out of spite. Brutally honest, she admits she doesn’t even know who he is, but they get to know each other after she insists on paying off her medical debt to him. Soon, she notices his strange symptoms, and after he comes clean, she encourages him to finish his memoir about his wife, Carrie (Louisa Krause), who died young, becoming his accountability buddy. Together, they live in the moment, and he even brings her as his date to his granddaughter Lindsay’s (Audrey Hsieh) bat mitzvah, much to the annoyance of uptight Francine. While Emma certainly gives more than she receives from the relationship –– she comes to abandon a career opportunity to care for Charlie –– her new friend sticks up for her when needed and encourages her to embrace life. 

Crystal effectively uses flashbacks to show Charlie’s relationship with Carrie through his eyes, and it’s all very whimsical and romantic, except that they are interwoven with more traumatic memories. Just like the protagonist of “The Father,” Charlie experiences fear when the people around him become strangers, from actress Sharon Stone to his own son. While Crystal is no Anthony Hopkins, the viewer cannot help but feel something when they see Charlie disoriented, especially in a memorable scene in which he is thrown off after construction forces him to take a different route home.

“Here Today” isn’t without many of the clichés we’re used to seeing in films in which an older white person becomes close to a younger Black person. Emma calls Charlie “old man” and makes sexual jokes about how he can’t handle all her “groceries.” However, a genuine tenderness develops between the two. She’s not just a source of amusement to him or someone who wants something. Unlike his kids, she doesn’t have any resentments towards him, and unlike the young writers he works with, she isn’t in awe of him or intimidated by him in any way. And Haddish, per usual, is a comedic force. She even sings and dances in this one, adding so much life to what could have been another sappy dramedy.

“Here Today” releases May 7 in theaters nationwide.