Roger Ebert Gave a Rare Perfect Score to the Meg Ryan Film That Features Her Best Performance — And You Can Watch It Now on Hulu (2025)

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What Is ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ About? ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ Features Meg Ryan’s Best Performance Your Rating Cast

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By Liam Gaughan

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Roger Ebert Gave a Rare Perfect Score to the Meg Ryan Film That Features Her Best Performance — And You Can Watch It Now on Hulu (2)

Often referred to as “America’s Sweetheart,” Meg Ryan became one of the most popular and successful movie stars of the 1990s. Thanks to the back-to-back successes of romantic comedy classics like When Harry Met Sally…, Joe Versus The Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, Ryan proved that she could elevate any romantic comedy that she appeared in, as the authenticity that she brought to her roles made the films feel even more effective. Despite being best known for her winning sense of humor, Ryan delivered a devastating dramatic performance in the underrated addiction drama When A Man Loves A Woman. While When A Man Loves A Woman did not become the breakout awards contender that it should have been, it did win the praise of Roger Ebert, who awarded the film a perfect score and spoke from his own experiences with alcoholism to praise the film’s sensitive portrayal of addiction.

What Is ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ About?

Ryan stars in When A Man Loves A Woman as the dedicated school counselor Alice Green, who falls in love with the charismatic airline pilot Michael (Andy Garcia) after they share a chance encounter at a bar. Although they are both struggling from breakups in their previous marriages, both Michael and Alice decide to start a more caring family; Michael’s daughter Casey (Mae Whitman) and Alice’s daughter Jess (Tina Majorino) begin to know each other as sisters. Although they are relatively happy, Michael’s job forces him to take extended trips away from home, often leaving the protection of the children in the hands of their loyal babysitter, Amy (Lauren Tom). Despite enjoying how wild and adventurous his wife’s behavior tends to be when they are able to spend a rare few moments together, Michael begins to recognize that Alice has lost control of her ability to stop drinking. While he wants to prevent her from harming herself, Michael also understands that any disputes between them could result in the collapse of their family.

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When A Man Loves A Woman opted to take a very realistic look at alcoholism that didn’t play into the classically “tragic” stereotypes that are often seen in issue-heavy dramas. While Michael genuinely seems to enjoy how risk-taking his wife is, including a particularly memorable scene in which they egg the car of an obnoxious neighbor, it soon becomes clear that she has no capacity for control. The film balances the perspective of both characters, and shows the pressure that Michael is under when he is forced to leave home due to his job. The dilemmas he faces are quite understandable; Michael wants to give Alice the opportunity to see her flaws and make responsible choices, but he also recognizes that there is a point in which he must step in when it appears that she no longer has the capacity for self-control. More heartbreaking is the fact that these two characters truly love each other, which makes seeing them break into arguments more difficult to watch.

‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ Features Meg Ryan’s Best Performance

Ryan gives a performance that is deeper than anything else that she has ever done, but it does not involve her completely ignoring her inherent qualities. The charisma that Ryan had in her romantic comedy roles makes Alice a better character, as it becomes harder for Michael to raise concerns to her when his wife is able to dismiss any of his thoughts as a joke. Seeing Ryan, an actress known for her warmth of optimism, descend into a self-destructive, hateful character who no longer comprehends what she is saying, is even more remarkable for those that were familiar with her previous work.

Despite receiving a SAG nomination for Best Actress, Ryan was overlooked for an Academy Award nomination for her performance in When A Man Loves A Woman and has unfortunately not received many opportunities since to prove her dramatic capabilities. While it is unfortunate that such a great feat of acting did not get the recognition that it deserved, the real value of When A Man Loves A Woman is the sensitivity in which it treats its subject, which may give it the opportunity to connect with real victims.