Maddie’s Secret
Her best friend Deena (Kate Berlant, "Dream Scenario") and husband Jake (Eric Rahill, "Friendship") know that Maddie Ralph (John Early, "Stress Positions") is an exceptional and innovative vegetarian chef but the woman who works as a dishwasher for Gourmaybe doesn't like the way she looks when Jake shoots a video of her making a Filipino eggplant dish. Still, with some encouragement, she posts it and is shocked to learn it has already received 600K views by the next morning. Called to the office by Gourmaybe boss Zach (Conner O'Malley, "Friendship"), Maddie is first told to review the contract which states that anything she does like this is owned by them, but the upside is a promotion to on camera recipe developer. She becomes so popular, she's courted to be the food stylist for season 6 of 'The Boar,' but her newfound success is fragile because of "Maddie's Secret."
Laura's Review: B+
Writer/director John Early notes a 1986 TV movie, 'Kate's Secret' starring Meredith Baxter, as the inspiration for his feature film debut, a startlingly original, queer friendly hybrid between an issue-of-the-week movie parody and sincere melodrama. Given his fledgling filmmaking credentials, Early's command of tonal balance is impressive, the film dealing, as did Baxter's movie, with the serious issue of bulimia while also eliciting laughs with its over-the-top flourishes, like dishwasher water fights and the main character's last name. Early himself is fabulous in the lead role, a performance that is positively sweet in its open-hearted nature and vulnerability.
When Maddie tells Jake she 'doesn't like the way I look,' we are confused because Early looks positively radiant in the role, but when the woman who proves a natural in front of the camera calls her mother Beverlee ('Third Rock from the Sun's' Kristen Johnston) to share her good news, she's reminded that the 'camera adds ten pounds' and we begin to understand the root of Maddie's problem. While Deena has introduced her friend to a queer gym where Maddie fits right in, when the on-air host overhears her chief rival Emily (Claudia O'Doherty, "Trainwreck") disparaging her weight to the boss she's hooking up with, Maddie goes home and binge eats. Worse, when Jake barges into the bathroom and finds her post-purge, Maddie hides her shame by telling him she's pregnant.
The pressures of vying for the food stylist position for a hit TV series causes a misunderstanding and rift between Maddie and Deena, then a box of meat arrives from mom and Jake mentions her 'baby bump,' sending Maddie spiraling. But when Deena figures out Maddie's secret, her best friend is back and supportive when Maddie ends up in treatment after suffering cardiac arrest during their Zumba class. Treatment introduces a whole new cast of characters led by the compassionate Dr. Kronenfeld ('True Blood's' Chris Bauer), but Maddie will face three mean girls - Brittany (Ruby McCollister, TV's 'Zhe Zhe'), Connie (Leah Hennessey, TV's 'Zhe Zhe') and Amanda (Emily Allan, TV's 'Zhe Zhe') - who delight in making fun of Maddie's totally uncool roommate Julie (SNL's Vanessa Bayer) and her weird crush on Nurse Kelly ('Hacks' producer Pat Regan).
The fact that those mean girls all come around, albeit after tragedy, is a testament to the woman Deena had asked if she 'ever got tired of being a good girl.' The most painful confrontation Maddie must have is admitting to Jake that she lied about their pregnancy, but Early cannily wraps by suggesting that a bit of imperfection is a good thing in a person's makeup when she receives a surprise visit. While the film encompasses a lot, from cooking scenarios to career politics to friendship to bulimia to several choreographed Zumba routines, Early keeps things moving at just the right pace. Production designer Gordon Landenberger ("Good One," "Stress Positions") runs the gamut from the warehouse in the Arts District where Gourmaybe's productions are staged to Maddie's thoroughly charming bungalow to the hospital setting for group therapy. And they must have had a good food stylist because everything looks yummy except for Emily's potato skins.
Berlant is a great foil for Early's sweetness and light, if occasionally over broad. Rahill is the perfect loving husband, O'Doherty the perfect jealous bitch. McCollister's Brittany is like Natasha Lyonne playing "Rocky Horror's" Magenta while Hennessey leads the group's reformation with a moving speech. Bayer is all kittens and lollipops and Regan a suitably and sternly odd choice for romantic obsession. The cast also includes Dominique Witten as a more congenial nurse. Johnston is vulgar and hissable in the funniest way possible.
"Maddie's Secret" is a true original, a 'woman's picture' led by a gay man with feminine sensibilities and a talent for tonal control.
Robin's Review: C+
Maddie (John Early) works as a dishwasher on a local TV cooking program. She has a knack for preparing delicious food and a video, made by her husband Jake (Eric Rahill), goes viral with 600K views and fame knocks on her door. But, there is something not so good happening to her in "Maddie's Secret."
OK, I have to admit, when director-writer-producer-star Early appears on the screen as Maddie, my first thought was "that's a guy." (A byproduct of deliberately not reading about a movie before I see it – except for run time.) At this point, I was taken out of the story by the lack of suspension of disbelief and wondered if Maddie was transgender or transsexual. That said, I have problems with director Early's feature debut.
First off, the characters are two-dimensional and never develop real "character." The other thing is the story is a cliché of many other rags-to-riches, overcoming obstacles stories – in this case, bulimia nervosa is front and center but, oddly, understated as Maddie's insecurity with her life causes the condition. And, she covers it up with Jake, after vomiting, by blurting out "I'm pregnant!" and further complicates her life.
Maddie, as said, is a worker on a cooking show titled "Gourmaybe." But, of course, she wants more – she wants to be a chef on TV. And, her BFF, Deena (Kate Berlant) has her back. As her career begins to take off, she puts her friend off and Deena is hurt.
While bulimia is the condition plaguing Maddie, it is only shown with Maddie wiping her face after off-screen puking. Complicating matters is her selfish mother (Kirsten Johnston) who is at the core of Maddie's problems, doing unkind things like sending her bulimic daughter monthly parcels of meat. The lady lacks maternal instincts.
When her condition becomes known, Maddie enters a rehab program to help her cope. There, she makes friends and learns a life lesson from the experience. I appreciate that getting help when you have a problem is an important part of "Maddie's Secret." I could have done with more the suspension of disbelief.
Magnolia releases "Maddie's Secret" in New York on 6/19/26, platforming in subsequent weeks.
