The Five-Year Engagement
Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) initially made a great couple. Able to laugh at the difficulties of their relationship and carefully navigate each other’s rough patches the two seemed to be on the right track for marriage, kids, the whole lot. But, shortly after their engagement new curve balls are thrown their way. Violet is accepted into school in Michigan, Tom in turn quits his job as a Sous Chef at a wildly popular restaurant in San Francisco to follow her. It was only supposed to be a two year deal, she said. Now, two years in that deal could get extended indefinitely crushing Tom’s dreams of culinary excellence and still there’s no wedding. Watching his best friend Alex (Chris Pratt) and sister in-law to be Suzie (Alison Brie) soaring in their own marriage, Tom begins to feel trapped and broken; and now, the dashing and sophisticated Professor Childs (Rhys Ifans) appears to be making a move on Violet. Will Tom and Violet ever get married let alone even stay together, and what about each partner getting to follow their dreams?
Written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller and Directed by Stoller the comedy comes quickly and honestly in this otherwise conventional romantic comedy—and I liked it. Segel and Blunt fit together perfectly, but I’m also beginning to believe that either actor could probably be paired with any other actor alive and still make a believable couple, together they’re even better. The rest of the cast rounds things out nicely including the comedic stylings of Lauren Weedman, Kevin Hart, Mindy Kaling, Randall Park, Jim Piddock and Brian Posehn. Again though, with the combination of the writing and the afore mentioned actors, you’ve got a winning combination. Drawing heavily on the belief of truth in comedy, not consistently going for the cheap easy laugh, and comedic actors that know how to elevate each other great things are destined to happen. Another date night winner where men can keep their dignity. The Five-Year Engagement is rated R.