Posts tagged Jason Segel

When we talk about romantic comedies or movies of a similar ilk, I don’t think enjoyment comes from the end result as much as it does in other movies.  When you watch a thriller, if it’s obvious the entire time that the killer was the actually the first victim’s mom who got a sex change or whatever, and then the mom ends up being the killer with no added fanfare to make that reveal exciting in some way, that’s going to be a pretty shitty movie experience.  But when we’re talking about a rom-com, I don’t think it’s the destination that entices viewers.  I mean, it’s a given that the two leads will end up together after enduring some sort of hardship (otherwise, movie studios would have an army of housewives mailing spatulas or some shit to them in protest).  Therefore, a good rom-com isn’t judged by how it ends.  Instead, we judge rom-coms by how much we enjoyed the journey.

Which brings me to my point. I am happy to report that the journey in The Five-Year Engagement was definitely entertaining. 

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A few nights ago I experienced Jeff, Who Lives at Home.  I say “experienced,” because I don’t think “saw” or “watched” is sufficient verbiage. Seriously, you guys, this movie is gooooooood.  Like, ultra good.  Super duper good.  Would you expect anything less from the Duplass brothers though?  They’re pretty fantastic.  Ugh, I just loved it.

That’s what I thought as soon as the credits rolled, on the drive home from the theater, as I layed in bed that night trying to force my body to give in to the night and surrender to sweet slumber, and for the entirety of the following day.  I still feel that way, mostly. I mean, it was a really good movie.  But my over-exuberant enthusiasm has waned slightly in the days that have followed and has settled in a state of simple enthusiasm.  This movie has everything I am typically looking for in a movie: written/directed by someone I admire (the Duplass brothers), starring actors that I have at one time or another fantasized about living with on a house boat in Alaska (I have weird fantasies), and containing equal parts comedy and drama.  I love movies that make me think, because, you guys, I totally love to think about stuff.  This movie had all of those things!  It also had something which I cannot abide, which is dead dads.  Not cool, movie. Not cool.

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