This past weekend, I had the fine pleasure of re-watching last year's hit 'The Five Year Engagement'. While, I very much enjoyed pieces of the film, I had a bit of a different take away from the film after re-watching.
A brief synopsis for those who haven't caught this gem:
Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) are a blissful couple living in San Francisco, who get engaged after a year's courtship. Due to a number of different impasses along the way, their nuptials get interrupted and delayed, stretching over a 5 year period. Tom starts off the film as a sous chef at a fancy restaurant on track to becoming Executive Chef and really launching his career. Violet is a PHD graduate in Psychology. As things seem to be further on the upswing for Tom, Violet is still seeking her next step. Then Violet gets accepted to a post-doctorate program in psychology at the University of Michigan, prompting the couple to move East. From that point on, Tom struggles with his new surroundings, while Violet flourishes in her new life. As the years go on, Tom becomes more and more miserable with the state of his life and lack of career. Unable to empathize with his struggle, Violet begins to disconnect from Tom. Their relationship breaks for a number of reasons and they both seek out more promising waters. Tom moves back to San Francisco and eventually finds his stride in a Taco truck, while Violet flourishes back in Michigan. After a death in Violet's family, Tom - newly single - shows up to the funeral and they reconnect. They spend the remainder of their summer together in San Francisco and re-discover the love they once had. At summer's break, without any logistics figured out, Tom and Violet decide to give their love another try. Violet plans an impromptu wedding and the two get hitched. Happily ever after, it would seem.
I remember having first seen the film and being drawn to the overwhelming power of love and their happy ending. Upon re-watching the film, I think it's a bit of a mess. While there are many funny moments where you may laugh out loud, combined with raw human emotion, the movie seems lost.
Having experienced long term relationships of my own, I know that if certain obstacles keep re-finding their place within a relationship, they may never leave. In 'The Five Year Engagement', we see Tom flourishing while Violet is trying to gain her own grounding. At this point, it's bliss. Once the relationship is challenged and Tom is forced to put his goals on the back burner, in order to support Violet, it all changes. Never once did I feel - as a viewer - like Tom embraced Michigan life. Instead, he makes half-assed attempts at life in Michigan, all while dragging his feet. After years of realizing that love is not always enough for them, this couple relapses and re-enters their relationship with nothing answered. No logistics or plans secured. They know they love each other, but it's been proven that it may not work.
I had an ex move out to Los Angeles to be with me after a failed relationship in Philadelphia. We knew logistics were tough for us, but we loved each other deeply. My dreams were the forefront for this life and it didn't work for him. The relationship dissolved horribly. I'm not bitter, however awfully realistic and given the insane obstacles provided throughout this overly long film, I'm hesitant to believe it works out. To add injury to insult, the film ends with Tom and Violet's nuptials. We see nothing past that. This makes me wonder, considering the entire film explored the difficulty of logistics within a relationship, that in the end the fantasy holds true? I'm not buying it.
I see a sequel in the future: 'The Five Minute Marriage'. Hopefully it won't be quite as drawn out and long as 'The Five Year Engagement'.
That all being said, here is one of many hilarious clips from the film:
"C is for Condom! That's good enough for me!" Amazing.
Despite my complaints, it's worth a watch.
Thoughts or opinions?
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