The Five Year Engagement
- Director: Nicholas Stoller
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Details: US /TBC TBC
- Release Date: 27/04/2012
Jason Segel's attempts at channelling Woody Allen through his obvious Apatow-led sensibilities sporadically work, in this surprisingly solemn comedy that has more dramatic elements than you'd expect. Starting out hilariously, and ending with a wonderfully organic sweetness, there's nonetheless a lethargic forty-five minutes or so in the middle that feel a tad indulgent. There are still enough real moments to make this work and Segel and Blunt make for an engaging couple.
Segel is a sweet, thoughtful and successful chef living in San Francisco who falls in love with, then promptly proposes to, his academic girlfriend - played by the always watchable Emily Blunt. After she gets a gig in Michigan, miles away from their base in San Fran, they up sticks and move there. But Segel's once uber-successful chef struggles to find work in the new town and quickly becomes depressed; while Blunt's sharp Brit excels in her new gig - even partaking in some flirting with an impressive Welsh professor (Ifans). As their engagement continually stalls, everyone's lives around them continue and their priorities change.
Jason Segel wrote and starred in one of my favourite romantic comedies in recent memory, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so naturally my expectations for this follow-up were sufficiently high. With 'Marshall', Segel (who works with the same co-writer and director here) struck that delicate balance between crass and sweet; one of the great things about the Apatow alum is that his characters always feel like an extension of him. He sells the overly sweet guy routine so convincingly because he's actually like that and writes what he knows very well.
Issues with TFYE arise in the middle with the film then staying in dramatic purgatory for far too long. A more ruthless director (maybe one who hadn't co-written the script) would've shaved off characters and subplots for the sake of pacing. One such subplot see's Segel's character growing some highly unlikely facial hair to emphasis his not-give-shit-ness; even the mildly dramatic turn that the film takes around this point feels off - as do a concoction of overtly comedic supporting players.
If it wasn't for that huge boring bit in the middle this would be an unequivocal success. Not a patch on Segel's previously penned features, but still enjoyable in parts and effortlessly sweet in others.
Review by entertainment.ie | 14:40 | Friday 22nd June 2012 | Movie Review
PreviousAbraham Lincoln: Vampire HunterComments
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Bryce
Is this just a chick flick? Are blokes allowed in?
Posted 14:32 | Thu 21st Jun 2012 -
ShankillDublin
No on their own - only in the company of wives or long term girlfriends.
Posted 14:09 | Fri 22nd Jun 2012 -
Bryce
Oh. Can I borrow your wife?
Posted 15:14 | Fri 22nd Jun 2012 -
chell
from the makers of the bridesmaid you'd think this movie would be brilliant and funny.......WELL IT WAS ('',) wasn't what i was expecting at all! I'd even go see it again, I'd Highly recommend it :D
Posted 17:21 | Sat 23rd Jun 2012 -
NMCS
This movie was long and drawn out, the actorsactresses were good but the plotstoryline just seemed to go on forever. A few funny gaffs but I wouldn't recommned this movie, very disappointing.
Posted 12:14 | Fri 29th Jun 2012 -
Barry Nolan
Ha!
Posted 21:17 | Fri 22nd Jun 2012 -
CatC
Oh nooooo!!!! I cant say how unusual this movie made me feel???? Love both Segal and Blunt, look I knew it was gonna be another funny type 'knocked up' not ure usual rom-com type with a bitta sadness like in 'The breakup' because of the subject matter, where u straight away assume, well they aint that happy if they cant put a date on it!!! But a little bit of me assumed they'd be a little bitta fun like 'bridesmaids' or even a bit of silly sweet romance like 'My best friends wedding' but nooooo. From the off I was waiting for Seth to pull out a funny, but hes serious droll face was not witty sarcasm or even humour, it wasnt the droll intelligence of Woody allen. It was bland and depressing. Even in the best moments, the movie didnt read well, like the actors weren't suited, clearly his choice of actress, and the relationship itself left me feeling like I didnt even want them to work out or be together. The film was very very poorly edited, and the ending, well without giving anything away, it was as if they had loads of ideas but crammed them all into one. You know these random movies with a musical number all of a sudden at the end, or all these inside jokes that they clearly edited out earlier.....well thats how random and ridiculous this was. I didnt leave the movie feeling even a little bit excited or embarrassed how into it i secretly was.....i was just feeling a little sick and worse off for watching it. Look I love movies and trust me would watch all and any but my god this was baaaadddddd.
Posted 12:19 | Wed 31st Oct 2012 -
janaxgara
This film was absolutely brilliant! Went to see it just because I had nothing better to do on a Monday afternoon, and I left the film thoroughly impresses. At some points during the film it did feel a little drawn out but the jokes were funny enough in it and it was a feel good movie. Would recommend it to anyone.
Posted 03:39 | Wed 18th Jul 2012 -
megseire
great movie its funny clever and has substance it is not your typical chick flick everyone i know who has seen it loved it and we all said that wed watch it again in a shot guys dont be put off this is a romantic comedy for everyone
Posted 11:29 | Thu 5th Jul 2012
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