Starring: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Rhys Ifans.
Things go from bad to worse as they relocate from their charmed life in San Francisco to Michigan and Tom winds up in a menial job below his abilities.
It seems the date-night movie has been reformulated so that all parties can get their money’s worth. For every bridal veil, there’s some gross-out humour to balance it. Think Bridesmaids or Forgetting Sarah Marshall (also directed by Nicholas Stoller). But what’s refreshing is a rom-com where the woman takes charge of her career and the guy is the stay at home martyr and fake orgasm-er.
What’s irritating about this film, though, apart from being too long, are the improbable moments. Tom and Violet getting engaged after a year is annoying, but a crossbow shooting and a toe removed from frostbite are borderline absurd.
Segal is the cuddly, unlikely romantic lead, as usual – they even put him in a big bunny suit in an opening scene. So, watching him degenerate into a deer-hunting, lamb chop growing brute is one of the highlights of the film. Even so, in spite of this, the natural chemistry between the leads remains effortless and charming.
The film’s message is hammered home through a donut motif: why wait for fresh ones when you’ve got a stale one in front of you. Look out for Violet’s Cookie Monster impression – it’s one of the film’s funniest and most poignant scenes.
Verdict: 3.5 stars
