I love this movie so much

Overrated

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I watched this movie because I saw Chris Messina in "The Giant, Mechanical Man" and liked him in that a lot. I liked this movie for lots of reasons. It's laugh-out-loud funny at many points. I love the whole exploration of the analyst/therapist community, and the penultimate scene in which all the analysts & therapists that you've seen throughout the movie come together. That was a hoot--so funny! I thought Chris Parnell and Jason Alexander were particularly good--really good--in their performances as therapists (probably the best thing I've seen both of them do outside of SNL and Seinfeld, respectively). Jason's line in that penultimate scene truly nails/identifies Ira's worries. I mourned and groaned over Ira's repeated failures to realize the treasure he's stumbled upon in Abby. Abby's honestly, openness, and care for everyone was really funny and well-written, but also personally refreshing, which rightly attracts--and ultimately makes insecure--Ira. Abby's point (on the day they meet) about marriage in today's world is a valid one--essentially, she says: "Since 50% of all marriages end in divorce, and we seem to really like each other, why not just get married and give it a go? I mean, we have just as great a chance as anyone else at succeeding at it, right? Why go through seven years of dating and the wasted energy of engagement and a big wedding? Let's just get married." Good point! I loved that the movie explored many typical pains of marriage in a good sampling of couples, especially in regard to faithfulness and unfaithfulness. The question of coping with a spouse's unfaithfulness (and the guilt and fear experienced by the one who's in the midst of unfaithfulness) is explored a good bit across the couples. Jennifer Westfeldt is stunning in her performance. It's so well done. Her character is so bright, without being fake, and so kind, that even though she's not a knockout in looks (though not ugly, certainly), her personality made you think, "This is the most beautiful woman ever!" Her character is a testament to the fact that sincerely caring about people can really make a difference (and even be transformative) in their lives. This is presented very humorously, but as the viewer, you also get the point. Also, Westfeldt does a masterful job in showing hurt and insecurity, especially in the scene where all the in-laws and they have gathered for the annual Halloween photo. The significant part I didn't like was the movie's conclusion--its final answer to the question, "What is the use of marriage?" Ugghhh. Wrong answer. How about, instead, the answer that the whole movie has built up: "Do like Abby: love and trust your spouse, and be kind and concerned for them"? How about, "Provide security for someone else by being committed to them no matter what"? This is the thing for which Ira and Abby both long throughout the movie--to have the other be committed to him/her no matter what. In Parnell's office, that's the great pain. Ira and Abby's conclusion about marriage at the end doesn't follow what the movie has more-aptly demonstrated, and leaves you saying, "Huh?" Their conclusion was so disappointing and empty.

Watched in via streaming Netflix.Chris Messina is Ira Black, son of two therapists, excuse me, 'analysts', and has a personal history of problems making decisions. As an example when he goes to he street café he orders one thing, then as the waiter starts to go away, changes his order, and does that a couple of more times. On a more serious issue, he has a girlfriend for 12 years but has not yet been able to decide to get married. Jennifer Westfeldt is perky Abby Willoughby, who works in sales at a downtown gym. She has a knack for making friends with almost anyone. In fact, when on the subway and a guy brandishes a gun and asks for money, she goes up to him, asks him how much he needs, then proceeds to calmly collect from the other riders. The love story starts when Ira, on a whim after seeing a poster, goes into the gym and is given a tour by Abby. Somehow she falls for him right away. She likes his face. She hugs his bare tummy after they compare 'bulges' in the mirror. He is taken aback by her interest, and he seems to like her too. But is shocked when she asks him, right away, to marry her.So the unusual story takes many twists and turns on its way to its eventual conclusion. While it in no way helps anyone figure out where they might want to go with their lives, it is a fun and entertaining movie.MAJOR SPOILERS: Ira and Abby go ahead and get married quickly, even though they don't know much about each other. Then certain revelations leak out, like the two other husbands Abby had had and then divorced. And Ira begins to feel uncomfortable that Abby doesn't seem to have any ambition, being satisfied with a small job that allows her to survive. They actually get the marriage annulled, then they re-marry. Meanwhile her dad begins an affair with his mother, which causes further family stress. In the end Ira and Abby are in bed, discussing their plans, including "I will never again ask you to get married" and they both sign the new divorce degree, happy to be in love.

Admittedly I'm hard on romantic comedies. Too often they are wildly unrealistic, filled with characters who are inexplicably wealthy and who act like people you just want to punch in the face because they're so neurotic and self-centered. At least this one doesn't have that problem.But it has a different problem. Westfeldt doesn't really address the movie's main questions. Is it best to just "go with it", or do you have to build your relationship like you would build a building? How important is marriage, and what's the point of it anyway? Why can't people talk to one another directly? What happens to your present when your past jumps up to haunt you? If you love each other, does it really matter what your life ambition is?These would be great things to think about, but instead Westfeldt bogs down the movie by having Ira's mom get into an affair with Abby's dad. Then when this news comes to light, everyone withdraws to their separate corners and plastic surgeons and therapists. (By the way, you could see the "therapists screw everything up" angle coming from the first five minutes of the movie - in fact, I'm still waiting for a "New York romance" movie to not involve a massive amount of complaining to therapists. Or analysts, as Ira's parents take pride in calling themselves.) Granted, it was at least funny to watch. But there's a scene near the end where Abby pulls in all the therapists, both sets of parents, herself, and Ira for a giant session. While everyone else starts yelling at each other, Ira and Abby look across the room at each other and mentally reconcile. The most telling thing to me was that at that moment, you could see how many unnecessary characters there were in the movie because the room was filled with them as Ira and Abby walked out together.

I saw this film at the LA film festival, and enjoyed it, even if it left me pretty much right away. The plot is one we've seen before, almost a sitcom plot, outgoing girl meets nebbishy guy. It's kind of a cross between an older Woody Allen film and Darhma and Greg, but what makes it enjoyable is the cast.The two leads are fine, but it's the supporting pros that steal the film with relish whenever they can. Robert Klein, Frances Conroy, Fred Willard all seem to be having a very fun time, and that translates right out into the audience.I think it was shot on digital instead of film, which makes it kind of different to look at, but not unpleasant at all.A fun date movie!