I walk into any film written
by Jason Segel with some pretty high expectations. While The Five-Year Engagement has some issues, including a very
contrived plot and some lackluster on-screen chemistry, I still found myself
laughing through the majority of the film. Many of the gags are almost telegraphed, and some of them go
on just a smidge too long to be quite as hilariously impactful. The transitions
in the story are both humorously timed and somewhat macabre.
The Five-Year Engagement follows a couple, Tom
(Segel) and Violet (Blunt) through the trials of a relationship with two highly
successful and driven people. After Tom sacrifices his career as a chef in San
Francisco to follow Violet to Michigan for her post-doctoral program, the
couple tries to keep their relationship going despite some very obvious
problems. Segel and Blunt's performances could have been stronger, but there
was nothing particularly remarkable to note either. Their chemistry
occasionally felt like it was missing, but I suppose that could be chalked up
to the authenticity of them having relationship troubles.
Alison Brie, who played
Violet's sister, added some much needed depth to the cast. The relationship between
the two was often quite amusing, particularly near the end of the film when
both girls argue in Sesame Street character voices. Sounds crazy, but it's
completely entertaining. Chris Patt, as Tom's friend and coworker, is a good
foil for Tom, but he's definitely not my favorite.
Despite the predictability of
much of the plot and humor, The Five-Year
Engagement is still an enjoyable film. Yes, at just over two hours, it is a
little long and could benefit from some edits, but the majority of the cast makes
it a worthwhile comedy that will entertain guys and girls alike.
