Film review: The Five Year Engagement (3 out of 5 stars)

Director: Nicholas Stoller.

Starring: Jason Segal, Emily Blunt, Rhys Ifans

I admit that rom-coms are not in my list of favourite genres, but this movie is much more than boy meets girl.

Director Nicholas Stoller (who also co-wrote and produced the film), along with Jason Segal (co-writer and star) have created a far more detailed storyline.

In fact, at 124 minutes it was rather too long for me and could have benefitted from a bit of trimming.

The plot is very simple - a couple get engaged a year after meeting but their attempts to finally tie the knot are thwarted by a series of events.

In a modern-day twist on the old idea, it’s the woman whose career mainly affects the relationship.

Segal plays chef Tom Solomon with Emily Blunt as his fiancee Violet Barnes and one of the movie’s strengths is the chemistry between the two.

You do get wrapped up in their story and understand their frustration.

Anyway, so much for the ‘rom’ bit.

The comedy aspect is the strongest element, with a nice mix of visual jokes, slick dialogue and some almost slapstick moments.

This is a 15 certificate, so there are some comic sex scenes and a liberal dose of swearing.

However, this isn’t one of those films that crash through the taste barrier for cheap laughs.

One of the biggest unintentional chuckles, though, is a short scene outside an ‘English’ church which couldn’t have looked more American if it tried.

Overall, this is a pleasant heart-warming and often very funny movie, though with some scenes that drag a bit.

One bit of trivia - Jim Piddock, who plays Blunt’s dad, was educated at Worth Abbey boarding school, near Crawley, before moving to the USA.

Steve Payne

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley