Sleeping with Other People : Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

I was very charmed by this film for almost the entire runtime. It felt genuine. It wasn't gimmicky or cheaply raunchy. The laughs came more from dynamite dialogue and awesome delivery than obvious set-ups and gags and dick jokes. The chemistry between Brie and Sudeikis was amazing and I applauded the film for avoiding so many of the obvious rom-com pitfalls and cliches. But then Sudeikis punched Adam Scott and got into a street brawl with him.

This moment suddenly turned the film into something it was succeeding at being above for so long. The film bravely gave us heavily flawed but still likable protagonists. But the script treated Lainy with kid gloves. They didn't have the balls to have her be called on her own behavior with Adam Scotts character. They only portrayed her as the pure victim, incapable of all self control around this toxic ex of hers. The ending desperately needed something that showed to the audience that she took partial responsibility for her actions. This never happened.
I know the film was going for that whole dynamic. Hell, I've experienced that dynamic in real life with people I know. Not being able to tear yourself away from somebody who is clearly bad for you is a real thing that people go through and I applauded the film for portraying it in a nuanced way....most of the time. But nope. Sudeikis punches Scott in the face and the film refuses to make Brie's character responsible for her actions. We're supposed to cheer and smile that the hero hurt the evil man for the woman he loves. And then she BLACKMAILS him at the time, and we're supposed to like that too! I'm not defending Adam Scott's character at all, please keep that in mind. He was a total prick and manipulative user and adulterer. But Brie was a cheater too and this is swept under the rug for cheesy, ham-fisted, lame-brained rom-com ending. I don't get how something so refreshing can end up so shallow within 15 minutes.

Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

Lesyle Headland cannot do endings.

Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

I just watched it and I totally agree on everything you said.

Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

Yep, I am right there with you on this.
I was even holding out for an ending where they did not get together.

Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

I agree! Felt the same way...movie was charming and clever and fun until the last 15 minutes. Then it went full on shmaltzy and to be honest made me like the two characters a little less....them screaming on the phone to each other that they were in love...completely cheeseball and then her blackmailing her ex and them getting married and "saving themselves"....barf. I loved that they ended up together but suddenly they became sort of different characters...wah wah wah.

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Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

Agree with this.

I thought it was weird how towards the end, Lainy and Jake weren't going to end up together...but it seemed to fit. I liked that they learned how to love, and were able to have healthy relationships afterwards.

Then the punch, and the police scene...ugh...it just went off the rails.

Good movie up until then!

Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

The fact that she had been miserable for 12 years waiting on someone who didn't want her was the repercussion for her decisions.

The only thing I wish they would have addressed was that neither character really learned that much. He wasn't fair to Amanda Peet. She wasn't fair to Marc Blucas. And they just laughed it all off when they ended up together.

Re: Could Have Been Great. Crippled by Typical Rom-Com Antics At the End

I loved the fact that he punched dude in the face. I loved that *beep*
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