ReelBob: ‘Puzzle’ ★★★

By Bob Bloom

“Puzzle” is a feature in which you believe at first that you know where all the pieces fit.

But, as the film progresses, you come to realize that the movie is not adhering to the shape that you imagined.

Agnes (Kelly Macdonald) is a Connecticut housewife whose routine centers on her husband, her college-aged sons and her church.

From the outset, you realize Agnes is a restless spirit. She is aware that her sheltered life is a self-made prison from which she yearns to escape, but that she does not know how.

A birthday gift of a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle ignites a spark within Agnes. She always has been fascinated by shapes and patterns, and quickly connects all the pieces.

Her first tentative steps to reshaping her life begin with a trip into New York City — to a small store that specializes in puzzles.

While buying two, she notices a sign for someone seeking a puzzle partner. Curious, she takes the number and builds up the courage to text it.

Thus, Agnes begins a journey that will reshape not only her life, but that of her family.

Director Marc Turtletaub, working from a screenplay by Owen Moverman and Polly Mann, moves the story along slowly. He allows you time to ponder where certain pieces may fit, without letting you see the completed picture.

Agnes returns to New York to become the puzzle partner of Robert (Irrfan Khan), a former inventor living off the proceeds of his creation.

He is impressed by her skills and introduces her to the world of competitive jigsaw puzzling.

At first, Agnes keeps what she is doing a secret from her family. But her husband and sons slowly notice changes; she is quietly becoming more assertive and independent.

And as she continues practicing with Robert, a gradual attraction germinates and grows, creating more inner conflict for a woman who never fully understood where she fit.

Robert grasps her inner turmoil. He sees a woman who “won’t let herself come alive.” He comes to appreciate this almost-mousey individual, seeing her inner strength and worth. “You are modest, funny, beautiful — and strange,” he tells her.

Baby step by baby step, Agnes grows in confidence, willing to speak out — and back — to her husband, Louie (David Denman) and upend his expectations of their family dynamics.

You come to appreciate the simplicity and calm of “Puzzle.” It’s a quiet film with its own thoughtful pace. The trajectory it follows does not lead exactly where you’d expect.

Nevertheless, it is a satisfying journey that is boosted by charming and underplayed performances by Macdonald and Khan, who little by little reveal aspects of their characters that reveal their disappointments and aspirations.

Denman, too, creates a character who, at first, may elicit scorn or even some fear, but finally allows you to sympathize with his dilemma.

Macdonald’s Agnes is someone you can embrace as she moves from being a piece in other people’s plans to the centerpiece of her own life.

“Puzzle” slowly and gently flows. It’s a sweet story about learning where you fit in the world once you decide to look at all the pieces.

I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

PUZZLE
3 stars out of 4
(R), language