Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Adam Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, Katherine Waterston
Sleeping With Other People
Director: Leslye Headland
Rating: 3/5
The start of 2016 marks the return of Leslye Headland to the director's chair for the second feature film of her directing career; the movie comes after she made her debut with Bachelorette back in 2012. As well as being in the director's chair for Sleeping with Other People, Headland has also penned the film's screenplay.
Jake (Sudeikis) and Lainey (Brie) lose their virginity to each other in college. When their paths cross twelve years later in New York City, they realise they both have become serial cheaters. Bonding over their chronic commitment issues, they form a platonic friendship to support each other in their quests for healthy romantic relationships.
If you are looking for a romantic comedy to kick back and enjoy this New Year then Sleeping With Other People is well worth a watch. Headland is one of the most exciting female filmmakers around and she has a very bright future ahead of her. She has created two great central characters that have been brought to life wonderfully by Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie.
Sudeikis and Brie have a wonderful chemistry together from start to finish and they really do drive this sweet and funny movie. Sudeikis is no stranger to the comedy role and he really does give a solid performance - even if he is not stretched too much. Brie is a young actress that you really need to keep and eye on as we go through 2016 as she has a very exciting year ahead of her with some great projects on the horizon.
The characters of Jake and Lainey are two very believable characters and there is something very real about them - you really cannot help but like them and you find yourself rooting for both of them to triumph. Of course, as serial cheaters, they could have been a pair of characters that audiences didn't warm to, but both Sudeikis and Brie have brought a real charm to them that really win you over.
Adam Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, and Katherine Waterston make up a fantastic supporting cast, but it is really Sudeikis and Brie who take centre stage and perhaps elevate this film to something a little more.
There's no denying that this is a film with warmth and charm but it there is something about it that we have seen before - it's fair to say that it doesn't reinvent the rom-com wheel. Sleeping With Other People does go over old ground and become a little predictable - that doesn't mean that you can't have some fun while watching it, though.
There are some great comedic moments - particularly from Sudeikis and Brie - but I found myself wanting more of those moments. It is a film that perhaps tried a little too much to shock with dialogue and plot when it should have perhaps focused more on the comedy elements of the story.
I wanted to like Sleeping With Other People more than I did, but the laughs just weren't enough for me and it did end up telling a story that we have seen many times before. Having said that, Sudeikis and Brie really are a strong leading pair and I liked their performances and their great chemistry very much.
Sleeping With Other People is a movie that does explore some interesting themes and ideas about platonic relationships/love and where sex can or can't fit into that relationship. However, for me, it just falls a little short and, at times, tries to hard to be daring and goes a little over the top.
Sleeping With Other People is out now.
Tagged in Jason Sudeikis Alison Brie