Sundance review: 'Carousel' is a romantic drama that goes deeper than most, and showcases Chris Pine and Jenny Slate in career-best performances

In the romantic drama “Carousel,” writer-director Rachel Lambert tenderly and precisely creates two characters who struggle to figure out whether love is worth the cost the second time around.

Chris Pine stars as Noah, a doctor who runs a family practice in suburban Cleveland with his late father’s old medical partner (Sam Waterston). Noah is divorced, and raising his 17-year-old daughter, Maya (Abby Ryder Fortson) — which can be tricky, because Maya is a perfectionist who angrily punishes herself when she’s not doing things perfectly.

Noah is a bit lonely, but settled into his life. That changes when he learns that Rebecca (Jenny Slate), his high school sweetheart, is back in town. Rebecca has recently left Washington, D.C., where she worked as a congressional aide and was, by the accounts of her colleagues, really good at it. Now she’s home helping her parents (Jessica Harper and Jeffrey DeMunn) sell the family house and move into a condo.

On paper, the reunion of these two former lovers could be the basis for a Hallmark Channel movie. But Lambert, in a heartbreaking follow-up to her sensitive 2023 Sundance drama “Sometimes I Think About Death,” imbues the characters and their journey with warmth and depth that take the emotional stakes to a much higher level. 

Lambert doesn’t traffic in long, soulful monologues where the characters pour their hearts out. The strength of “Carousel” is that these characters struggle with getting the words out, because they’ve become so practiced at bottling themselves up. There’s an argument between Noah and Rebecca at the movie’s midpoint that totally rips your guts out, and could be a masterclass in the expression of romantic longing.

Pine and Slate are wonderful, together and separately, each doing perhaps the best work of their careers. They’re well-matched by Fortson — grown up some from her beautiful work in “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” — who makes Maya’s crippling anxiety a physical force.

One more thing about “Carousel”: Though Lambert deals with some weighty issues and tough conversations, it’s ultimately a hopeful movie. Love might conquer all, but the people in love have to do the work — and when they do, the results are joyous.

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‘Carousel’

★★★★

Screening in the U.S. Dramatic competition of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Not rated, but probably R for sexual content and language. Running time: 103 minutes.

The film screens again: Thursday, Jan. 29, 11:15 a.m., The Ray, Park City; Friday, Jan. 30, 6 p.m., Holiday Village 3, Park City. Also screening on Sundance’s web portal, Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.