Home Again Soundtrack – An audio and aesthetics review

Thirty year-old writer and director, Hallie Meyers-Shyer (daugher of rom-com legend Nancy Meyers) is responsible for directing 2017s ‘Home Again’ starring Reese Witherspoon. The Home Again soundtrack and score accurately accent the upper-class affairs of Witherspoons heart and beautifully reflect the decadent décor porn that Meyers is so famous for. With such high rom-com standards to uphold, Meyers-Shyer was not the only one feeling the pressure. Academy award nominated John Debney was responsible for composing a musical score filled with soft piano, light percussion and playful xylophonic motifs. The score sounds relatively acoustic at times which matches the lighthearted family unit well. As well as the musical score, the Home Again soundtrack has also been created mindfully to thread through the key themes of the story as well as matching the aesthetics of each scene beautifully. Thematically, the movie is focussed around family life, relasionships and finding fulfilment. Due to this, the house Witherspoons’ character, Alice Kinney, lives in plays a pivotal role in the story as this is the place where the family resides, laughs, cries, loves and finds comfort which is what the story is all about! As a result, most of the scenes take place in the stunning Spanish-style Californian house which honestly deserves an applause for its supporting role!

A fresh start

Witherspoon plays “newly separated loser” Alice Kinney, who is a single mother now living in her old vintage hacienda-style family home in LA. Starting a new career venture as an interior designer, its no wonder her house is a bohemian haven. Detached from the house is a convenient guesthouse just big enough to host three hard up budding filmmakers whilst waiting for their movie deal to go through. But before all of this, we first meet Alice as she sobs depressingly into a mirror on her 40th birthday and soon follow her new lifestyle in LA. After dropping her two daughters off at their new school and catching up with her music-biz ex husband on the phone, Alice decides to visit a bar with her two gal pals to celebrate turning a year older.

When Harry met Alice

Alice clumsily bumps into Harry (Pico Alexander) on her way back to her table where she is totally oblivious that she has caught Harry’s eye. The two soon meet again when Alice approaches the bar to ask for two glasses of rosé whilst convenitely standing next to Harry. Introductions are made and sparks start to fly when “Baby You Got It” (Brenton Wood) begins to play over the subsequent scene. The song is used as a non-diegetic sound element that is placed over the tops of the characters’ voices so the watcher focusses more on the chemistry being formed between Alice and Harry rather than the dialogue. The high fluid, gentle vocal line and soft percussive accents, allows the soulful 60s pop song to charm us into falling in love with Harry and Alice… even if it is just for one night! The placement of this song matches the character dynamic between Harry and Alice perfectly as neither know much about the other at this early stage, but are undoubtedly attracted to one another “baby you got it, that’s all I can say to you”. The two throw wide smiles at each other along with close body language and soft eye contact. Similarly, the lyric “there’s nothing fake about you” suggests that this is the true Alice we are seeing. As for most of the movie Alice is presented as an anxious yet efficient mother “who has been up since 5:30” doing loads of laundry. However in this scene, Alice seems to let her hair down and is spontaneous, fun loving and jovial which Harry finds charming by the way he gazes lovingly at her. This song is about a man who is completely infatuated with a woman, in this case Alice, and Harry makes that pretty obvious with his flirtacious behaviour and gazing eyes. Due to their age difference, which Harry refuses to acknowledge, the lyric “I run after you like a fool would do”, could suggest that it is foolish to pursue a woman that much older and in a different stage of life. Harry and Alices’ age difference becomes an issue later on when Harry is unable to prioritise well and breaks his promise to Alice where she proceeds to say “You’re a 27 year old kid Harry – you’re on the cusp of being a really great guy, but 27 year olds just screw up. They just do. I know because I used to be one”. So is it foolish to pursue someone that much older and in a different stage of life? Perhaps there is some truth to this statement afterall.

The morning after, Alice receives a unexpected morning visit from her mother and daughters who are surprised to find Alice with company and a hangover! While the three filmmakers are shocked to find out Alice is 70s filmmaker icon John Kinney’s daughter, Alices’ mother takes a liking to them and their backstory and soon convinces Alice’s to let them stay as they have nowhere else to go “be a patron of the arts Alice!”

Patron of the arts perks

After having agreed to support three cash strapped filmmakers, Alice starts to reap the benefits of having three very gifted and caring young men around the house; “free live in childcare, full time tech support and sex”. Too good to be true right? Here in the middle of the movie, we hear “Groovin” by Aretha Franklin as Alice and Harry draw closer together. Pillowtalk, movies in bed and sitting by the fire create a sense of romance for Alice that she has been somewhat lacking in her recently separated life. The slow, relaxed groove of the song supports the sultry state that Harry and Alice are both in. The phrase “just groovin” is repeated throughout to show how both characters are mindlessly going with the flow and enjoying each others’ company day in day out in quite a cyclical way, which is also matched on screen with recurring visits to Alice’s bedroom each night. Furthermore, the songs’ smooth and soulful feel reflects the blissful state they are in and living in the moment. However sadly, this will not last long for either of them.

Time for heartbreak

In an attempt to bring their romance out of the bedroom and out into the light, Alice invites Harry to a dinner party which he excitedly accepts with good intentions but due to his immaturity, hurtfully leaves Alice sat alone and never shows. To underscore Alices’ heartbreak and disappointment “Misty” by Johnny Mathis is played during this scene. The classic jazz standards’ silky strings and smooth piano matches the low-lit garden setting beautifully that Alice sits solo at. The lyric “I’m as helpless as a kitten up a tree” highlights Alices’ vulnerability and longing for Harry to show up. It also shows that she feels hopeless in the situation yet still being infatuated with him “you’re the reason I’m feeling so hopeless”. With long melodic lines and heartfelt, sombre tones, it accompanies Alice’s mood perfectly and allows the watcher to feel as she does. After breaking it off with Harry, the boys move out and everyone goes on with their lives until Alice and Harry soon reunite and Harry offers a heartfelt sorry.

Finally home again

Now back on good terms with the boys, everyone goes to see young Isabel’s school play where the boys make it just in time! The movie finishes with Alice, her daughters, her ex-husband and the three boys sitting outside enjoying dinner without malice but rather with pure love and laughter. As they talk about how Isabel’s performance was such a success more laughter is heard and we a true display of family and momentary bliss! The camera shifts to beaming Alice glancing at each character, reflecting on how far they have each come and how they each bring something unique to the table. Quite literally. It’s only fitting that we finally hear “Home Again” by Carole King which encapsulates the movie superbly. King finally sings out ” I wanna be home again and feeling right” which has been Alices’ desire throughout the movie. That desire is now met as Alice sits contently in her perfectly unconventional home.