Romantic comedies are probably one of the more predictable genres in film and because of that, it’s truly hard to find a fresh voice that excels in that world. Although her first feature, Bachelorette, was not necessarily a rom-com, writer-director Leslye Headland has done something impressive with her follow-up, Sleeping with Other People.
Jason Sudeikis stars as Jake, and Alison Brie is Lainey. The two meet in college, and despite losing their virginity to each other one fateful night, they never rekindle any kind of spark after their single night of passion.
Fast forward 15 years and each one is not in a good place romantically in their lives. They run into each other in the most unique of locales and decide to try a date. Despite their initial collegiate attraction, the two decide to just be friends and, at first, it is a brilliant move. They become the best of friends, in fact, and see each other through the trials and tribulations of singlehood with advice and the occasional pint of Ben and Jerry’s.
Lainey is pining for Adam Scott’s Matthew, and Sudeikis is throwing himself at his boss Paula (Amanda Peet). Both are disastrous relationships and their friends seem to think they’re simply blind to the fact that the pair is slowly, but surely, falling in love.
If you think you have seen Sudeikis in roles like this before, think again. His Jake knows he’s in love with Lainey, but never has the courage to do anything about it. Plus, he’s afraid he’ll lose the kinship with the woman who is his best friend if he tries to make their relationship anything more. See, although Jake is quite cocky and quite the ladies’ man — like Sudeikis has played before — he’s got a heart and an emotional depth that the SNL veteran has never played prior.
Brie is a revelation. The Community star is a delight who by being matched with Sudeikis creates a rom-com chemistry that we haven’t enjoyed since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan or even Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. And like those pairs, we hope they make more rom-coms together because their chemistry and collective comedic charm is truly something special that pops off the screen and warms the heart.
What sets Sleeping with Other People apart is the audience knows that these two are going to get together in the final moments of the film. Yet, how Headland has written her script, the last 20 minutes of the flick feel as fresh as anything we’ve seen in this genre in some time. How she gets her characters to the landscape of love is nothing short of surprising and sublime.
That’s the problem with rom-coms and why the genre has been so stale. Audiences are smart and they can see an ending coming a mile away. As Sleeping with Other People seems to be wrapping up, our two leads are not together. In fact, they do not even live in the same state! How will they get together? My goodness, will they even GET together?!
That is the majesty with what Headland has done with her sophomore feature. Not only does she keep things real throughout her film, but her ending could not have been more organic and fresh than the wares at a farmers’ market.
Grade: A-