Susan Sarandon is an amazing actress with 136 films to her credit. Since her appearance in The Rocky Horror Pictures Show (1975) and Thelma & Louise (1971) – which grossed millions – she has acquired an extraordinary worldwide fan base. That’s why fans and critics are pleased to see her in the new comedy The Meddler.

Aging and alone since the loss of her husband, Marnie Minervini (Sarandon) decides she needs to restart her life, so she moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be close to her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne). What could be better than a bank account of plenty, breathing new fresh air and being there for your daughter? That’s the attitude Marnie projects on her lovely perky face every day when setting out in her new world.

Unfortunately, the more Marnie pops in, offers outings or wants to help Lori, the more Lori complains she doesn’t need her help. Lori herself is not happy. She just broke up with her boyfriend, actor Jacob (Jason Ritter), and is entrenched in a major film project. With constant phone calls or texts from mom, she can’t focus.

Marnie does meet a very nice guy who seems interested in her. Zipper (J.K. Simmons), a retired cop, works as a security guard on movie sets. When he offers Marnie a ride on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle one day, she accepts. Because both seem to be on guard about broken hearts, their relationship builds slowly. 

However, when Lori goes to New York to work -- mostly so she can get away from mom --   Zipper and Marnie spend more time together. Their scenes add a lot of humor to this story, especially when she visits his out-of-town residence where he raises chickens that lay eggs to Dolly Parton songs.

Still missing Lori and not wanting Zipper to think they are more than friends, Marnie decides to help others.  She visits Lori’s therapist and ends up giving the therapist advice. After Marnie buys a new phone, she constantly returns to the Apple store to ask Freddy (Jarrod Carmichael) some trivial questions – so she feels like friends with him.

With all that money in her purse, Marnie tells Lori’s friend Jillian (Cecily Strong) that she will pay for her elaborate wedding. This keeps Marnie busy until Lori returns and is even more troubled than when she left. She might even be pregnant. This scene between Lori and Marnie is really funny.

The cast is terrific. Byrne, a prolific actress, makes Lori quite believable. Simmons has just the right touch to entice a lonely woman. He’s sensitive, sweet and with a soft voice and big mustache like Sam Elliott, a real catch. Still, it’s Sarandon infusing the film with all her talent, a smile on her face, eyes that twinkle her feelings -- happy and sad -- and a buoyant friendliness that draws us into this story.

The Meddler emerges as a fun, thought-provoking movie about mothers and daughters. Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, it’s based on her life story. The film once again confirms Sarandon’s talent with humor as well as her ability to capture an audience with her humanity and optimistic look at life. The story has something for all audiences above 13.

(Released by Sony Pictures Classics and rated "PG-13" for brief drug content.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.