"Year by the Sea" A Chick Flick that Made Me Sea Sick based on Joan Anderson's Memoirs

"Year by the Sea" is a cliched chick flick of an older woman searching for her inner strength.  Joan (Karen Allen, "Raiders of the Lost Ark") is a domestic goddess, wife & mother of 2 grown sons.  The opening montage of the 2 brothers growing up together was the most credible & delightful segment in the film.  From there the movie tanks.  No amount of duck tape could salvage this wreck.  At her son's wedding Joan ponders where the adventure & excitement has gone within her life & marriage to Robin (Michael Cristofer).  Cristofer is a Pulitzer Prize & Tony Award winning playwright ("The Shadow Box").  The omnipresent wine doesn't serve to soften the tension or disillusionment in their marriage.  It comes as an indignant surprise that Robin has sold their family home without consulting her & relocated his business & their future home from NY to KS.  (Really? Who does that in a marriage?)  Still, the blame game & innuendos of infidelity do not propel this sinking chick flick ship.  "Year by the Sea" is based on the memoirs of Joan Anderson.  Anderson (b Amer 1943) is a best-selling author of self-help books for women to empower them in their lives.  Having appeared on Oprah, Anderson "Oh" moments are oh so laughable despite the intent to be enlightening.  The movie is buried in cheesy cliches that tackle serious subjects of physical abuse, alcoholism, senility, aging and of course, learning to like one's self.  The cast includes the exceptional S. Epatha Merkerson as Joan's friend & literary agent and British actress Celia Imrie as the older & wiser Joan who is just silly in her holier than though as a wistful spirit.  The cinematography of the ME coastline with lighthouses, seals and breathtaking sunsets is lovely.  However, the musical score by Alexander Janko just hanks your chain.  Janko wears too many captain's hats for the film.  In addition he's its dir/writer/prod.  Alexander Janko drowns his film in mawkish slop.  Janko's other films include: "The Girl on the Train" & "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."  I'll throw you a lifeline, stay away from this cliche of a woman finding inner strength & fulfillment.  The film is overflowing with sentimental flotsam & jetsam.