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It’s no secret that relationships are tough to maintain; they require things like compromise, compassion, and commitment. So when two commitment-phobic friends pair up in writer/director Leslye Headland’s Sleeping with Other People, the result is an amusingly dysfunctional indie rom-com with its own kind of commitment issues.
Sleeping with Other People navigates the ups and downs of relationships with two people who just can’t seem to commit. Lovable womanizer Jake (Jason Sudeikis) goes from one fling to another, cheating his way out of dead-end relationships. Lainey (Alison Brie) is hopelessly devoted to her college crush—and no one can stop her from running to him whenever he calls. After one date, Jake and Lainey decide that it’s safest for them to stay just friends—and, in the process, they find themselves in the longest, healthiest relationship of their lives.
Of course, it’s no surprise that, as these characters continue to deal with the issues and phobias that repeatedly derail their quest for The One, their friendship quickly grows into something with all-too-obvious promise. But while the film’s direction may be predictable, the journey is anything but. Jake and Lainey aren’t the same old rom-com characters, so their story is messier and more outrageous than you might expect. As is usually the case with close friendships, their time together is alternately dramatic and wacky, with conversations ranging from mild to wild—and sometimes downright explicit.
Both characters definitely have their issues, but they’re issues that, deep down, most viewers can understand. She’s hung up on a guy who’s never seen her as a serious prospect. He’s protecting himself from break-ups and broken hearts. Together, Jake and Lainey run the gamut of messed-up—which makes them endearing in their own, unstable ways. Still, some of the cast members are more successful than others. Sudeikis is undeniably charming as the lovable scamp with a heart of gold, but other cast members don’t feel as natural—including Brie, who often feels like she’s trying a little too hard to be adorable and damaged.
Meanwhile, the characters and their relationships are so messy and unstable that viewers never really get a chance settle into the tone of the story—because it’s always changing. At times, it’s clever and shockingly funny; at other times, it’s sweet and heartfelt. And while the swinging moods may be realistic, they’ll also leave viewers consistently off-balance.
Sleeping with Other People isn’t as simple and straightforward as the typical brainless romantic comedy. It’s edgier and more truthful—but it’s also a little rough around the edges.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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