(MOVIE REVIEW) The Five-Year Engagement

One of the worst things that a movie can do is barely making contact with its audience on the premise that the movie is sold on (through previews/trailers). What I mean by this is if a movie promises big laughs and only delivers low key jokes and amusing perspectives on a situation. That is not to say that the movie isn’t funny, just that it is “sold” to us as a different movie than what we actually see. It would be like someone promising you a tomato and bringing you a bottle of ketchup. Both are enjoyable…but you can’t slice ketchup.

Storyline: Tom (Segel), an up-and-coming chef, and Violet (Blunt) a psychology student finish her PhD, are on the verge of becoming engaged after a year of dating. They are, if there ever was such a thing, the perfect couple. Shortly after the engagement Violet is offered a position at the University of Michigan. This results in the couple relocating from sunny San Francisco to the harsh winter climate of Michigan. While Violet is thrilled to be pursuing her dreams, Tom is struggling with finding a way to fit in to this new world. Forced to take a job in a sandwich shop, endure the freezing cold, and trying to make new friends, Tom is in this for the long haul. But when Violet’s position in Michigan is extended, and the engagement is postponed even longer, the couple is faced with some truly difficult decisions. Is there a way for both of them to be happy or will they choose their careers over love?

This is actually a funny movie. There were not as many guffaws (loud laughs) as the previews made me think there would be, but I giggled during the whole movie. There are some things that were pointed out by my lovely wife that helped me see that Jason Segel might not have been the best choice to the male lead (we both thought Paul Rudd would have been better). However, you will enjoy the movie if you go watch it. Especially with a date.   

Worth the admission? yES (with a little “y”). If you are going out this weekend to watch a movie, you are probably going to see The Avengers, but if it is sold out and you are looking for a cute and funny rom-com, check this one out. The chemistry between Segel and Blunt is what makes this movie fun.

Shout outs to Kevin Hart and Brian Posehn. They have smaller parts in this movie, but Brian Posehn is one of those guys that everything that comes out of his mouth is weird and funny. Really enjoyed him in this movie.