In Sleeping
with other People, Lainey (Brie) and Jake (Sudeikis) get together once, and
then don’t see each other again for years. When they do meet up again accidently, they’ve each been
through difficult relationships, and after confiding in one another, they agree
that they’ll simply be friends to avoid the stickiness of a sexual
relationship. A fine friendship
does develop; they have fun times together, but date other people. They talk freely, and support one
another in whatever difficulties they’re having with others. They have to work through small piques
of jealousy from time to time, and their friends often remark about how they
seem like a couple—which they always emphatically deny—but they do genuinely
seem to care for one another.
Eventually, Lainey decides that she will return
to medical school after being a kindergarten teacher, and she moves to
Michigan. Oddly (to me) they part
without plans for staying in touch, and Jake gets involved with Paula (Peet)
who is his boss, is divorced, and has a child. The film shows vividly how unconscious concerns and
preoccupations can simmer underneath a person outside of awareness. Jake and Lainey will meet again, but
only after a considerable amount of turmoil.
The film is billed as a comedy, but even though
there are some funny lines (“You’re not an addict; you’re a whore!”), much of
the story is about the ups and downs in relationships and the difficulty in
staying faithful to a mate, more serious business. Sudeikis and Brie are entertaining in their roles, they have
good chemistry together, and Brie gets to show off her dancing skills and
Sudeikis his gift of gab. A host
of other stars surround them (e.g., Jason Mantzoukas, Adam Scott, Andrea Savage),
showing that the film is well cast.
Director Leslye Headland (writer as well) keeps
a good pace and clear direction, and the music of Andrew Feltenstein and John
Nau matches the changing moods of the story, often making a humorous reference
with it. There are some rough
spots (as in the beginning when Lainey is throwing a senseless tantrum in the
school dormitory), a lot of casual sex and rather public hook-ups, which lends
some unevenness in the flow. The
cruel way a character is dumped toward the end of the film is another episode that
does not fit well in a comedy. I
think the film would be better if it lightened up and offered more wit and less
turbulence.
A rom-com with more upheaval than
comedy.
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