Smashed is a 2012 independent dramedy film starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and Octavia Spencer.
Kate (Winstead) and Charlie (Paul) like to have a good time. Their marriage thrives on a shared fondness for music, laughter . . . and getting smashed. When Kate’s partying spirals into hard-core asocial behavior, compromising her job as an elementary schoolteacher, something’s got to give. But change isn’t exactly a cakewalk. Sobriety means she will have to confront the lies she’s been spinning at work, her troubling relationship with her mother, and the nature of her bond with Charlie.
Watch the trailer here.
Tropes applying to this film:
- Actor Allusion: Kate confesses to accidentally smoking crack while drunk leaving Charlie surprised. Which is hilarious considering Aaron Paul's previous experience with drugs.
- The Alcoholic: Both Kate and Charlie before Kate sobers up.
- Alcohol-Induced Idiocy: Part of why Kate begins to become sober.
- Being Good Sucks: The film paints a very sober (no pun intended) and realistic picture of taking responsibility for ones actions. Kate comes clean to the principal about lying about being pregnant to cover up her alcoholism. She still gets fired.
- Bittersweet Ending: Kate is one year sober, and has found a new job. However, her life is much less exciting, the new job pays much less, and she and Charlie have split up, and are probably not getting back together.
- Freudian Excuse: Both of Kate's parents are alcoholics. Truth in Television, since children of addicts often become addicts themselves.
- Hollywood Tone-Deaf: Mary Elizabeth Winstead is actually a very good singer, but grates on the ears performing drunken karaoke.
- Lies to Children: Kate tells her kindergarten class that she is pregnant after she arrives to the school hungover. Slowly becomes a Snowball Lie as it spreads to her co-workers but she clears it up causing some more trouble.
- Off the Wagon
- Nailed to the Wagon: Kate notes that she would prefer it if Charlie stopped drinking too.
- Too Much Information: Non-comedic example. Davies not only confesses his attraction to Kate, but also describes, in detail, his fantasies about her. Since trampling on boundaries is part of the disease, he makes a sincere apology, and Kate forgives him.
- Tropaholics Anonymous: Kate of course joins an alcoholics anonymous group to handle her problem.
