Without much in the way of supporting evidence, we are expected to accept: (a) some mutual admiration society spontaneously formed between a naive gay boy-man and some older challenged woman with no discernible personality, (b) that Margaret could manage as a stand-up comic while being rather slow-witted and inarticulate throughout the movie, (c) that Tyler and James could bond and then their relationship could self-destruct so rapidly.
I'm not saying these improbable situations might not have arisen in reality, but nothing was done to make them seem real & plausible to the viewer.
It may be easy to see why Margaret would be drawn to friendship with a cute young man given that she appears to be otherwise friendless, but that he would not have formed more important & natural friendships at college with peers seems improbable since he does seem to have some normal social skills, is decidedly attractive & good natured, and there's nothing maternal or supportive coming from Margaret to warrant more than an incidental acquaintance between the two.
Without revealing too much detail about the pivotal event in their relationship, when Nate becomes very frustrated & agitated and goes into rant mode directed at Margaret, it seemed that that gun was cocked & loaded and ready to be fired for quite awhile. The alleged love and respect he felt for Margaret must not have run very deep considering the volley he lets loose at her, making the film ending all the more implausible.
Much too much of the film is given over to the supposed development of Margaret's stand-up skills over time. Again, any evidence that progress is being made is totally lacking. She seemed as unfunny when the talent scout approached her as she did when she first appeared before stunned audiences of one or two. Her insipid material and mousy delivery did not justify more than a yawn and a rush to the exits.
The whole Nate and James thing was poorly developed both as a relationship between the two and as a wedge between Nate & Margaret.
To sell the Nate and Margaret pairing, more proof of their dependence on one another needed to be developed to convince viewers, and the Margaret character needed to have some believable substance. It would all still have been somewhat incredible, but it might at least have engendered a sympathetic response from some in the audience.
An annoying waste of time with little to redeem it.
