Romance is one of the most complicated things in the world. The dates, the conversations, the devotion; it’s all extremely difficult to figure out, yet more than worth it if the end result is a wonderful relationship. In one of the year’s most wonderful surprises, “Enough Said” gives us a glimpse at a more realistic portrayal of romance–full of joy, despair, and befuddlement that makes love worthwhile.

Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is more than aware of the difficulties and brilliance love brings, thanks to her prior divorce. But when she runs into Albert (James Gandolfini) at a party, a relationship starts out between the two. While on the surface they seem different, both have been through rough divorces, both have kids heading into college and both have unique jobs (she’s a massage therapist, he’s a connoisseur of classic television).

Movies allow us to catch a glimpse of fantasies and images beyond our own comprehension, sights and sounds previously unknown to us. Yet, other films, like the equally brilliant “Before Midnight,” give us a glimpse of actual reality; the script is filled with characters that act and talk like real human beings. “Enough Said” falls into the camp of displaying realistic situations, and it works splendidly. Much of the film’s success comes from writer/director Nicole Holofcener, who keeps the film constantly riveting thanks to some of the best dialogue heard on screen this year and some compelling characters. To boot, she does an expert job of balancing the film’s many instances of both humor and drama, with neither element sabotaging the other’s impact–a rare feat in the world of film.

These wonderfully written characters are given an extra dose of depth thanks to a superb cast lead by two actors who give some of the best performances of their respective careers. Julia Louis-Dreyfus exhibits a sort of calm, yet desperate personality as Eva, a woman who is trying to fill the emptiness in her life left by her college-bound daughter. This kind of personality would be easy to turn into an over-the-top stereotype, but Dreyfus does it all wonderfully, making her character feel constantly relate-able and sympathetic, even when she does things that aren’t exactly perfect. Gandolfini, meanwhile, makes his character a man who’s been put through the wringer in life but still manages to keep a positive attitude. Gandolfini commands every scene he’s in, with him playing the kind of dialed back, everyman role he doesn’t play very often. The scenes of Gandolfini and Louis-Dreyfus are some of the best in the movie, especially those involving humor and brutal emotion.

It’s this kind of acting, not to mention some outstanding writing and direction, that really helps “Enough Said” become one of the year’s most delightful films. Although it has more positive attributes than you can count, perhaps the film’s best asset is it’s wonderfully realized characters. We’ve all known someone like Eva, or perhaps you yourself are a little bit like Albert. The writers have a knack for crafting characters that deftly explore emotions and situations we all experience on a daily basis. Thanks to such unique characters, “Enough Said” stands as a reminder of the power of romance and its influence on our everyday lives and interactions.