Michael Apted created one of the most gut-wrenching relationships with the help of Jennifer Lopez and Billy Campbell. In Enough, they portray Slim and Mitch respectively, and they put on a show that will hurt your heart. Not only that, but their scenes together will send shivers down your spine and make you want to rip your pillow apart from anger! In this rollercoaster ride of a film, you’ll come across a handful of great characters and a few good ones, but who are the very best? Here’s my list of the 5 best Enough film characters!
5. Phil
Played by Christopher Maher
Slim Hiller said that Phil is the closest thing to a father she’s ever had, and it’s something we see portrayed rather well. Whether it’s Phil’s overseeing eye at the diner or him walking Slim down the isle at her wedding, he does fatherly things. It’s what makes him stand out, as most other men are scumbags or simply poorly written. Phil doesn’t fall into neither category, and stands tall as a very human character, who is played very realistically by Christopher Maher.
If there’s one moment that elevated Phil into the 5th spot in my book, it’s when he decided to wake up Gracie when confronting Mitch. Phil knew that Mitch wouldn’t shoot anyone in front of his own child. In doing so, he also got a hold of Gracie. It was smart and enabled them all to get out of Mitch’s house together, alive. I liked seeing Phil’s effort and concern for Slim and her daughter in such fashion. It made me really like the guy!
4. Ginny
Played by Juliette Lewis
Ginny is the friend we all wish we had. One who always has our back, who’s willing to put her own life at stake for ours, and who you can trust to take care of your child when you’ve got to whoop your husband’s butt!
While Ginny has a handful of humorous moments, with Juliette’s natural charm and comedic timing elevating the character, she’s at her best when in a scene with others. She works well off of anyone, able to bounce off others better than anyone else, making her feel very “alive”. Therefore, she’s the most energetic character of the bunch, and that makes her fun to watch. While she’s not necessarily interesting in her own right, she’s funny and kindhearted, which goes a long way in a thriller like Enough.
3. Gracie Hiller
Played by Tessa Allen
I bet you didn’t think that Gracie would make the list, did you? But how is it surprising? For a child actress, Tessa Allen knocked it out of the park. She played Gracie with confidence, good energy and tons of personality. It’s like she knew exactly what she was doing at a young age. I was thoroughly impressed, as Gracie’s not just a happy-go-lucky kid. Most of the time, you will see her distressed, sad and frustrated, suffering because of her mother and father’s extremely toxic relationship. In turn, she’s surprisingly good, and for that, I will give her ton of credit!
Gracie is the heart of the film. She’s the one you’ll be hoping survives the ordeal, even moreso than her mom, as she represents the innocence that Slim loses in her relationship with Mitch. Whether it’s her important part in the film, being what Mitch is after, or her adorably realistic reactions to her mother’s odd requests, Gracie acts as a pillar of what’s normal. When all the crazy things start going down, she’s the one thing that stays pure. She’s the normality which Slim clings to in order to remain herself, remain good and still find her humanity.
Last but not least, my heart melted when Gracie attacked her father Mitch in order to protect her mother Slim. It was something I honestly didn’t see coming, but it was a moment that hit my heart in more way than one. I was conflicted, as I struggled watching that scene, as it was brutal. But I found it wholesome, as it showed directly how a child in this situation could act. It was rough. Difficult to watch. But meant a lot to me. I could barely hold myself together.
2. Mitch Hiller
Played by Billy Campbell
Listen, Billy Campbell, you’re really good at playing a dispecable human being. I truly wanted to punch my TV more than a few dozen occasions, and do you know what that means? No, not that my TV is in danger, you silly goose! But that you’re performance was superb. In turn, I will gladly applaud you for making me feel like enough is enough with Mitch Hiller.
At first, Mitch seems like a good man, standing up for Slim and being a good husband for many years without problems. Then, we find out that he’s been sleeping with multiple other women, and thinks that he owns Slim. And I’m not saying this in a loving way or anything, but in the most toxic way imaginable. In case you’ve not seen Enough (2002), Mitch is a violent narcissist, who believes that he can do whatever he wants because he pays the bills. It means that he can cheat on his wife, punch her in the face, kick her and verbally abuse her, and she just has to take it. In turn, it’s a case of a seemingly good man being revealing his true colors after many years.
The craziest thing about Mitch is how he treat Slim. It’s weird to say it, but the scenes with him and Slim are the best ones, even though they may be hard to watch. However, that’s the point of Enough – to make you feel like you’re having enough of Mitch’s behavior. And in turn, want to see him get what’s coming to him.
Billy Campbell plays Mitch well, both when he’s a loving husband and a violent tyrant.
Billy Campbell was able to tap into the most ugly part of himself when playing Mitch. The way in which he looks at Slim, with disgust, disregard and pure dominance, is enough to put fear into the viewer. In addition, his facial expressions tell short stories, and his abuse on his wife feels so real and authentic, that it’ll make you grimace seeing those violent scenes.
What truly puts Mitch securely into the second spot on my list is how well he played both the good and the bad guy. In the beginning, he’s a loving husband and a good father. In the end, he’s a toxic tyrant, a violent man, trying to get his wife killed. It’s a crazy twist and a maniacal turn.
1. Slim Hiller
Played by Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez does an impressive job as Slim Hiller, a young woman trapped in a truly toxic relationship, threatened by a man she once loved. Now, with a child in the picture, leaving is not that easy, and things quickly take a turn for the worse. But through the trials and various tribulations, Slim is able to fight back when she’s truly had enough. It’s a very engaging story
Slim’s journey is one of the main reasons she’s the best character in Enough. She goes from being a young woman, with small hearts flying in her eyes, looking for a man to call her own. When she got hooked into a relationship with Mitch, it started well at first, but when all was revealed, the turn of Slim was a sight to behold. She had to flee from a relationship that had her bloody, bruised and verbally abused, treated like absolute trash. In doing so, she brought down even more wrath on herself, and all of it was uncalled for. And the only option was to stand up against Mitch and fight, instead of fleeing. In this growth spurt, we saw what a mom is capable of. And that she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her child.
Every scene with J.Lo was truly engaging to watch. She pulled me in and made me feel like I was right there, witnessing everything first hand. Her reactions to getting abused were truly realistic, and her dialogue scenes with Mitch were among my favorites in Enough.
J.Lo deserves respect for her impressive performance as Slim.
Surprisingly enough, Jennifer Lopez was nominated for a Razzie Award for her performance as Slim. It’s something I can’t comprehend. Did people even watch this film with a fresh pair of eyes? Was this a situation where people went into the film already hating her? There’s no chance in hell that anyone who watched Enough walked away from it thinking that J.Lo is the worst actress on Earth. And if a few people did, it shouldn’t take anything away from the abundance of people that truly looked at this film as her breakthrough into the mainstream.
I wholeheartedly think that Jennifer Lopez as Slim Hiller is the best part of Enough. It’s the reason to watch the film, and she’s the character you’ll be thinking about when the credits roll. I like what J.Lo brought to the table and thought she did a phenomenal job. Thus, I’m giving her the 1st place on my list of the best Enough characters!