The problem a lot of romantic comedies and dramas seem to be having these days is that they are finding it difficult to give their audiences that extra something. Sure, rom-coms always do well at the box office, but the public are becoming a little tired of a film that always follows the exact same plot line.
Films that have edged towards quirky seem to be getting a better reaction, although the rom-coms initially make a huge splash, they are quickly forgotten. However, if you can find a film that has a certain resonance with the audience and characters one can identify with, then you are really on to a winner.
The best example of a romantic drama in that vein is none other than Garden State; a quirky romantic drama written and directed by the lovable Zach Braff, starring Natalie Portman and just generally charming the pants off everyone who watched it.
Stuck in Love has attempted to fit into that territory but isn’t really doing the best job. Revolving around a writer, William, and his family while they overcome their various trials and tribulations in love, the film tries to explore love in its various stages, beginnings, disillusionment, marriage and divorce.
William has tried to move on after he and his wife Erica (Jennifer Connelly) have separated but the transition has not been easy for him and he continues to hold on to the belief that some day she will come back. However, he has little idea how much the events have affected his daughter Samantha (Lily Collins) who spends the entire movie at war with her mother.
Despite the fact that the cast all put in pretty reasonable performances, there is no standout characters in this. Greg Kinnear’s William spends his time whining about having to drink wine, have sex with a random neighbour and live a stress-free life on the beach, his ex-wife is upset that her husband is too hot and their children are not impressed that they are with the people with whom they are clearly in love.
To be entirely honest, the film just does a little bit too much whining in general, to the point where you begin to think, there are people starving in Africa, these are not real problems.
Stuck in Love just misses the mark and becomes a very hum-drum affair. Not the worst film you will ever see, but it certainly will not make any kind of impact.
