Review: I Give It A Year

Review: I Give It A Year

Funny romantic comedies are often hard to come by. There are some (most of which star the likes of Jennifer Aniston or Gerard Butler) that unashamedly assume they are hilarious by throwing in a zany, unrelatable and clumsy character whose story involves lots of falling over; occasionally though, there are others like I Give It A Year. 

Director Dan Mazer's comedy shouldn't really be as funny as it is but there's something irresistible in the way his script throws a romantic cliche at the audience only to have it followed by a cheeky wink, as if he's saying "I know, right?"

Aside from the comic aspects though, I Give It A Year manages to push all the right buttons with its genuinely well written (if flawed) characters and although the story, in particular its ending, sends out a pretty negative message about the importance of marriage and the work it requires, the movie will surely satisfy its typical target audience - and may warm even the most stubborn heart.

The wedding of Josh (Rafe Spall) and Nat (Rose Byrne) goes without a hitch - despite the fact they've only been together for nine months. Unfortunately though, their parents, their friends and even the minister don't believe that they can make it for more than a year. Before long, they begin the usual squabbles that the average newlywed couple endure, but to make matters worse Josh's ex-girlfriend Chloe (Anna Faris) returns from her around the world travels and Guy (Simon Baker) appears as a handsome client in Nat's advertising firm, providing attractive alternatives for both sides of this mismatched marriage. Can they even make it to their first anniversary?

The story is solid enough, in particular the fact that the movie starts where most romantic comedies end - the wedding. The only thing that doesn't click is the idea that the film projects - the idea that marriage is like a contract that can be cancelled at any time. Why bother even getting married if you're just seeing it as a challenge?

This leads to a problem with the characters themselves as, although their moral ambiguity is the backbone of the film's narrative, it's hard to care whether or not they complete the running time with their relationships intact. Josh and Nat's marriage seems doomed to fail but neither wants to be the first to end it - so the only thing keeping them together is stubbornness, really. Add to that the fact that the other potential partners (Guy, a slimy businessman who seems determined to entice a married woman and Chloe, a nice but aimless charity worker) are as frustrating as the central couple in question, and what we end up with is a mismatch of infuriatingly selfish people who only seem to be in it for themselves.

Still, although the "rom" part of the film has some dodgy hiccups, the "com" section is flawless. Rafe Spall, who most will only know from the unfortunately dull sitcom Pete Vs. Life, is fantastic as Josh, managing to nail both the essential comic timing and the emotional punches, while Rose Byrne once again plays the female lead with elegant ease. The two have some brilliantly natural chemistry together, keeping us tied in to their story of forced love and temptation.

There's also some brilliant comedic support from the hilarious Stephen Merchant who steals every scene he's in, particularly for his hilariously awkward best man's speech ("For those of you who don't know me, and for those of you who'll meet me at the bar later my full name is Danny D'you Want A Pint.") as well as Jason Flemyng popping up as Nat's brother-in-law. We could have done without Anna "I'm funny, really, please give me a chance" Faris though.

Summary

I Give It A Year is a romantic comedy that doesn't really want to be a romantic comedy. To be fair, it's much more comedy than romance thanks to its ambiguous message regarding the importance of marriage (you'll see what I mean by the end - no spoilers here!) yet despite its narrative flaws regarding the characterisation, the spot on performances and some genuinely funny moments ensure that I Give It A Year will satisfy more than just the usual rom-com crowd. If not, it'll at least put you off buying a digital photo frame.

7/10 - Good

See it if you liked: Knocked Up (2007), 500 Days Of Summer (2009), Friends With Benefits (2011)