- MPAA RATING: R
- RUNTIME: 124 minutes
Staff Writer
‘Five Year Engagement’ struggles to hold interest
Very few moments in life are as exciting as getting married. But in the film “Five Year Engagement,” Tom (Jason Segal) and Violet (Emily Blunt) prove that getting married isn’t always an easy trip down the aisle.
Living in California, Tom is a budding sous chef and is on the verge of becoming the head of his own kitchen when he meets the girl of his dreams, Violet. As a psychology major, Violet yearns to continue her studies at a relevant university. Eventually, the couple gets engaged and begins planning their wedding.
When Violet agrees to take a job at the University of Michigan, Tom agrees to move with her and the couple is forced to delay their impending nuptials.
Shot in Ann Arbor, it’s exciting to see the various places around town that we’re all familiar with up on the big screen. However, as the movie goes on, the city and the state as a whole are portrayed as a gloomy, miserable hell-hole that has nothing to offer compared to California.
Segal feels a bit out of place in this movie as he tries to be more of an actual actor than he normally does in previous films. His relationship with Blunt at times feels very real and at other times is hard to believe. Blunt, on the other hand, is a standout, and it was a surprise to see how well she pulled off her role.
The supporting cast helps carry the film with appearances by Kevin Hart, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pratt and Alison Brie rounding out the side stories.
If you’re looking for a laugh-a-minute romantic comedy, “Five year engagement” is not that film. While it has plenty of laughs, the movie clearly focuses on the relationship between Segal and Blunt with the laughs sprinkled in.
A nice movie to see with a date, “Five year engagement” is better served catering to that audience and not those just looking for raunchy humor.
GENRE COMEDY
RUN TIME 124 MINUTES
RATING R
