BEFORE: I may not have realized it at the time I drew up the schedule, but this is sort of a companion piece to last night's film, which was about a couple taking a long time to acknowledge they're in a relationship. This one's about a couple taking a long to time to acknowledge that their relationship is over. Linking from "No Strings Attached", Kevin Kline was also in "The Ice Storm" with Elijah Wood.
THE PLOT: A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people.
AFTER: This film is all about maintaining a friendship through and after a marriage, which might strike most people as impossible, or at least odd. But I'll wager that is was inspired by a real situation, and in fact caused me to have a few flashbacks to my own first marriage. It has to do with compartmentalization, and the down side of being a friend, confidant and lover all at the same time. One aspect of the relationship might crumble, but instead of making a clean break, someone might try to hang on to whatever remains, which is a mistake in one respect, but then again, who's to say what's normal in this situation?
In my case, the breakup was nearly a two-year process - even when it was acknowledged that we would both need to find new partners (though she'd already had somebody in mind...) there was still the matter of the paperwork, plus dividing up all our stuff, and then there's trying to make the emotional break in a positive way (not possible...). My point is, there's lots to be done, and it takes time. But is it possible to be cordial to each other and make jokes, even when signing the papers? My own experience confirms that it is.
The female character is a bit of an odd duck, the one less likely to face the truth and more likely to be in denial. After three films with Natalie Portman running away from love, perhaps it's just jarring to see someone trying to hold on to it. Ironically, her character is a trend forecaster, yet she's unable to see the possible results of her own actions or inactions when it comes to her relationships. And still she's depicted as the more mature person in the couple.
So I give the film high marks for accuracy, and credit for covering a topic that is rarely depicted on film, but I have to base my score on my overall enjoyment, and in the end it wasn't that enjoyable to watch. Too many hipsters doing hipster activities like yoga and listening to obscure bands. And the side plot featuring a Britney Spears-like pop-star just felt like filler.
Also starring Andy Samberg (last heard in "Hotel Transylvania"), Rashida Jones (last seen in "The Social Network"), Emma Roberts, Eric Christian Olsen, Ari Graynor, Chris Messina (last seen in "Ruby Sparks"), Will McCormack, Rebecca Dayan, with cameos from Rob Huebel, Chris Pine (last heard in "Rise of the Guardians").
RATING: 4 out of 10 German accents
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