BEFORE: Just a few days left in February, and it looks like the big winners for the month will be Jennifer Aniston (last seen in "He's Just Not That Into You") and Bradley Cooper, each represented in 4 films. Vince Vaughn (last seen in "Wedding Crashers") is staging a late comeback, but it will be too little, too late. I had two open slots here while waiting for HBO to premiere "Date Night" on Saturday, so it was either 2 Vaughn films, or 2 Meryl Streep films - with Streep's birthday occuring in June, it makes sense to save those.
THE PLOT: In a bid to keep their luxurious condo from each other, a couple's break-up proceeds to get uglier and nastier by the moment.
AFTER: Well, I'm glad to see someone make a film about what's really important in a relationship - the real estate. I'm semi-kidding here, but it's one of my two stock pieces of advice for younger co-workers - "Hang on to the real estate." (The other, of course, is "keep separate bank accounts." Hey, what good is my experience if I can't pass it along?)
It's really painful subject matter, as the audience gets to be a "fly on the wall" during this couple's most trying times. Since neither is willing (or financially able) to move out of their shared condo, they're forced to continue to share space, and the mind-games commence. Breaking up is not easy, but for these two, breaking up and staying together simultaneously is particularly hurtful. It's tough to watch the person you cared about date someone else, for example, even if you're officially over.
There are some sitcom-level hijinks, and some rather poor portrayals of both gay men and a cappella singers (I take more of an issue with the latter...) - heck, most of the men in this film don't get a fair shake, especially the video-game addicted, insensitive, slovenly lead character. There is, however, a real attempt to change his ways (after much, much resistance) but as is often the case, it comes too little, too late.
The story and the ending rang sort of true - but I don't know too many non-married couples who would buy real estate together, so I'm not too keen on the whole premise. It feels like someone wanted to make a divorce movie, but without the divorce part - because then you'd have something like "The War of the Roses".
Also starring Jon Favreau (last seen in "Four Christmases"), Joey Lauren Adams (last seen in "Dazed and Confused"), Jason Bateman (last seen in "Teen Wolf 2"), Vincent D'Onofrio (last seen in "Being Human"), Justin Long (also last seen in "He's Just Not That Into You"), Judy Davis (last seen in "Blood and Wine"), Ann-Margret (last seen in "Any Given Sunday"), and John Michael Higgins (last seen in "Fred Claus").
RATING: 6 out of 10 double-decker buses
No comments:
Post a Comment