The Five-Year
Engagement
Directed By:
Nicholas Stoller
Written By: Jason
Segel and Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Jason
Segel, Emily Blunt, Christ Pratt, Alison Brie, Mimi Kennedy, David Paymer,
Jacki Weaver, Kevin Hart, Rhys Ifans, Dakota Johnston, Mindy Kailing, Randall
Park, Chris Parnell, and Brian Posehn.
Director of Photography: Javier Aguirresarobe, Editor: ,
Production Designer: , Original Music:
The
opening sequence of The Five-Year
Engagement, a romantic comedy with surprising warmth and maturity, sets the
stage for our couple destined to be. Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt)
are driving to her sister’s home when Tom starts talking about some receipts he
forgot and must run back to the restaurant he works at. Violet looks at him
strangely, as Tom becomes more and more panicked about what seems like a
miniscule problem. Finally, he stops the car and slaps an engagement ring on
the dashboard. Violet is more than excited, despite Tom’s despondence over
failing to create a surprise. But Violet loves him too much, and Violet insists
on going trough with the charade, even though the outcome is inevitable. And it
is still romantic, and still funny, and still made my heart swell.
Despite
its labeling as the latest bro-comedy from the Judd Apatow machine, Nicholas
Stoller’s The Five Year Engagement
breaks and bends the mold to really explore what exactly relationships and
commitment really mean. Written by Stoller and star Jason Segel (last seen
collaborating on The Muppets), it’s
the most ambitious of the brand of romantic comedy from Apatow’s brand, and the
duo knock it out of the park. The film isn’t just for laughs, or to teach one
sided a lesson. This is a film about two people who we know are right from the
start learning to accept that challenge, and not let “life” get in the way. And
by filling their narrative with some of the most comedic talents one could ever
ask for, Stoller and Segel have stapled themselves as a worthy successor to
Woody Allen with this gem of a film.
