I love most of the actors that are in this film. My husband and I enjoy romcoms. We literally look for new ones to watch. But this is the second new streamer-produced romcom we've seen lately that flops. Honestly, Prime's Shotgun Wedding is worse. We couldn't even finish that one.
No wonder the streamers are losing money. It's not just about the stars. It's not about the premise. It's about the writing and directing. In the case of Your Place or Mine, I agree with other reviewers that this is a poor use of Reese Witherspoon's talents. It's true of the other actors, as well.
Netflix and others need to look past the premise and the stars and READ the script before green-lighting. If they had, perhaps they'd have noted that it's disjointed, not particularly funny, and that the characters themselves aren't at all real. There is no depth or logic to any of the characters. It doesn't have to be a lot for a romcom!
The leads are both supposed to be inherently creative types. She is supposed to be a repressed editor.
Ashton Kutcher is supposed to be a clandestine writer and avid reader. Yet, his apartment is barren. Even his books are on the shelf by color, presumably decorated by a professional designer. He is revealed to be a marketing consultant who can't commit to a company nor to a woman. Marketing is often a creative career, and I don't know a single marketing person who would have an apartment like what they portray for him. That apartment would suit a techie, perhaps, or, indeed, a math whiz. The Porsche works, and his sense of humor work. The fact that he reads a lot works. But that's it. His character isn't complete. Kutcher does the best he can with this, but it just doesn't connect.
Reese's character is supposed to be like an old hippie. Long skirts, jean jackets, bohemian. Her house fits that. However, the screenwriter has her in a completely nonsensical career in math. Math? She reads voraciously. She was probably an English major in college. We don't really know if she's ever edited, but it's what she wants to do, just doesn't think it's practical. Why did the writer put her in some kind of math class? And for what job? That's never revealed that I saw. Why wasn't SHE in marketing for a career? Sales, even? Those and others would make more sense than some indistinct job in math for everything else about her character. Plus all of her week-long shenanigans in LA wouldn't have given her time to study to actually pass a test. Is she naturally a math wiz? I didn't see the evidence in her personality as written.
No, romcoms aren't typically in-depth. But the good ones do better than this. The best in class is When Harry Met Sally. It not only had good acting, but an excellent script for them to work with.
And, in good romcoms, there is chemistry. I didn't see that among any of the characters. It was as if they were all independently floating through the movie, especially Steve Zahn's character of the neighbor. What exactly was the point of his character? The only character with any depth was the kid, Wesley Kimmel, and his scenes were fun. This was also a poor use of Tig Notaro. She's naturally funny, and some of her lines worked. But again, no depth, no engagement.
Netflix, stop scrimping on writing. If a new writer needs a chance, at least get someone with more experience to help them hone good, worthy scripts. Please!
7 out of 10 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Tell Your Friends