Premiering at Tribeca, the film explores aging, unexpected connections, and late-in-life rediscovery—led by real-life couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s heartfelt chemistry.
Tribeca Festival – June 2025
Making its world premiere in the Spotlight Narrative section at the Tribeca Festival, The Best You Can marks a poignant return to the screen for real-life couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, starring together for the first time since 2004’s The Woodsman. Directed and written by Michael J. Weithorn, this warm, character-driven dramedy offers a heartfelt exploration of aging, loneliness, and second chances, appealing especially to older audiences—but with universal emotional relevance.
It’s a quiet, small-scale film, but it lands thanks to the intimate performances and genuine chemistry of its leads. Bacon, now 66, shows a more vulnerable side as Stan Olszewski, a struggling security guard dealing with prostate issues and a strained relationship with his adult daughter. Sedgwick plays Cynthia Rand, a spirited and compassionate urologist grappling with the emotional burden of caring for her much older husband Walter (played with grace by Judd Hirsch), who is experiencing early dementia.
Their first meeting is anything but conventional—Cynthia mistakenly believes Stan is breaking into her house before realizing he’s a security officer, after which she offers a medical examination for his “frequent urination” concerns. It’s an awkward, hilarious, and surprisingly tender moment that kicks off a slow-burning friendship filled with text message exchanges, mutual confessions, and eventual intimacy.
The strength of The Best You Can lies in its nuanced depiction of two people connecting in the latter chapters of their lives. Cynthia is juggling professional ethics and emotional boundaries, while Stan struggles with fatherhood, loneliness, and an uncertain identity in a rapidly changing world. Their friendship gradually evolves into something deeper—complicated by romantic jealousy, personal limitations, and the realities of aging.
Adding to the dynamic cast is Brittany O’Grady as Stan’s aspiring singer daughter Sammi, who brings emotional friction and generational contrast to the story. Ray Romano also makes a brief but welcome appearance via Zoom as a doctor colleague, injecting a light comedic touch. The ensemble, rounded out by Olivia Luccardi, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, and Victor Williams, brings richness to the world Weithorn crafts—one grounded in reality, heartbreak, and resilience.
Weithorn, known for his work in television (including The King of Queens), brings a sitcom sensibility that never undercuts the film’s sincerity. The humor is observational and lived-in, balancing moments of levity with poignant reflections on memory loss, regret, and reawakening.
Ultimately, The Best You Can is exactly that—a reminder that even in life’s twilight, there’s room for rediscovery, awkward romance, and laughter. Thanks to the undeniable spark between Bacon and Sedgwick, what could have felt like just another streaming-friendly midlife crisis tale becomes something sweetly compelling and warmly relatable.
The film’s running time is 1 hour and 43 minutes, and it was produced by Michael J. Weithorn, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Victoria Hill, Andrew Mann, and Andrew Wonder. It is being represented by CAA for sales.
Whether it finds a home on a major streaming platform or in limited theatrical release, The Best You Can is a charming gem that will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered if it’s too late to start over.