Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Starring Jason Segel, Emily Blunt
Most romantic comedies focus on a passionate dating period or build up to a climactic marriage proposal; The Five-Year Engagement cuts right to the chase and begins with a jittery Jason Segel waiting for just the right moment to pop the question.
Segel and Emily Blunt star as a couple embarking on the seemingly smooth road to marriage only to encounter a series of impediments that inevitably postpone the big day. The two are fun to watch on screen, a lovable pair that doesnt become too sugary sweet. Segels timing and wit supply enough goofy charm while Blunts quirky cuteness provides the perfect balance.The movie is backed by a solid supporting cast including a scene-stealing Chris Pratt and equally hilarious Alison Brie.
Directed by Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek) this outing ditches the predictable potty humour in favour of genuine emotion and even a little more drama at the centre of the story. In many ways The Five-Year Engagement is not a first date movie as it delves into the uncomfortable notion that a long-term relationship is often in danger of becoming mundane; this is where the films pacing is a problem, holding it back from true greatness. Hilarious moments pop up throughout but, at just over two hours, some scenes should have been left on the cutting room floor. The Five-Year Engagement does deliver a lot of laughs but feels more like a pastiche of amusing scenes rather than a cohesive whole.
