As much as I enjoy most Judd Apatow productions, they have a tendency to go on longer than necessary. The drama is drawn out in favor of slipping in just a few more jokes and seeing how far they can go with the improv. FUNNY PEOPLE did it. BRIDESMAIDS, which I love, did it. And GET HIM TO THE GREEK did it. It’s as if they don’t know how to admit that they have a good thing and quit while they’re ahead. Unfortunately this streak continues with writer/director Nicholas Stoller and writer/actor Jason Segel’s second Apatow collaboration, THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT.
Starting where most romantic comedies end, THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT follows a happy couple on the road to marriage. The couple in question is Tom (Segel), a successful chef in San Francisco, and his fiancée Violet (Emily Blunt). The two plan to get married and continue their lives in the Bay Area until Violet gets offered a job at a college in Michigan. Not in a rush to get married and Tom refusing to hold back Violet’s career, the two move to Michigan. Tom has a tough time adjusting to life in Michigan while Violet flourishes at the University. After Violet’s job offer gets extended another two years, their relationship becomes strained and they struggle to actually pull off their wedding.
It starts off well and good, showcasing the excellent chemistry between Segel and Blunt as they begin to plan their life together. They’re an everyday likable and easygoing couple that is generally in good spirits. I really liked Segel’s character in FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, his first collaboration with Stoller. He was a lovable, silly oaf and he’s in that same groove with Tom. Blunt steps away from the stuffy, more polished persona she’s had in most of her films and really shows her comedic chops, matching Segel’s goofiness and physical humor.
The good times continue as we watch their initial adjustment to Michigan where Tom is thrown off by the weather and lack of employment opportunities while Violet enjoys her time at the University. Tom is uncomfortable working at a local deli and no longer being the breadwinner. Meanwhile Violet loves her job and continues to impress the University faculty. Surrounding the two are an impressive group of comedians including Mindy Kaling, Brian Posehn, Chris Parnell and Kevin Hart as Tom and Violet’s co-workers and friends and they have a lot of funny bits throughout the film.
But as we near the last half of the second hour and Violet’s stay gets extended, the film begins to wear out its welcome. At this point the story loses steam and forgets its original purpose – to show a couple planning for and hopefully having a wedding. Instead it focuses on Tom’s depression about living in Michigan and subsequent transformation into a wilderness man and Violet getting wrapped up in her work. It’s no longer an amusing look at the obstacles on the path to marriage. Now it wallows in unhappiness, dragging the film down and it feels like they’re trying to draw things out a little bit longer, seeing what other oddball situations they can throw at the couple before they get back on track.
Adding to the slow pace is the fact that Tom and Violet are a regular couple, which means life isn’t all too exciting. Sure there’s the initial excitement of the proposal and beginning stages of planning their wedding but that quickly disappears as we just observe their life in Michigan. Their relationship doesn’t change much over the course of the film so it doesn’t even feel like we’re watching five years of a relationship. It feels more like a really long year. So to fluff the story up a bit and make it appear like time is actually flying by, they add minor subplots and hurdles but it only serves to add to the runtime rather than to the story.
However one of the better secondary stories follows Violet’s sister Suzie (Allison Brie) and Tom’s best friend Alex (Chris Pratt). While Violet and Tom’s wedding continues to get postponed, Suzie and Alex develop an unexpected and accelerated relationship, ultimately becoming Tom and Violet’s model for marriage. Brie and Pratt are hilarious and steal every scene, Brie especially when she and Violet have a serious argument in full on Sesame Street voices. I wouldn’t mind seeing a movie that followed their relationship.
Despite the meandering story and long runtime, THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT is a sweet and amusing look at having a relationship without sacrificing your career and the time in-between proposing and walking down the aisle. Segel and Blunt give wonderful performances with a talented cast of supporting characters and it is plenty funny to get you through the slower parts. While it’s not quite at the same level as BRIDESMAIDS or FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, it definitely makes for a good date movie and isn’t a bad way to spend two hours.
