Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

The subject of sex addiction is a new one, at least in indie filmmaking, and it was terribly explored in the 2012 film "Thanks for Sharing." With a much funnier cast assembled, and a solid screenplay to boot, the romantic coupling of Jason Suidekis and Alison Brie is one of the best in recent years. Much of the film's success is owed to writer and director Leslye Headland, who also helmed the 2012 comedy "Bachelorette." The film is produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, who have been taking more chances on obscure indie comedies. Though this isn't the best rom-com of last year it has flawless chemistry between its leads and includes bawdy humor that impresses and intrigues.The film starts in much the same way as "When Harry Met Sally," with Lainey (Brie) meeting Jake (Sudeikis) in a dorm hallway, where Lainey is pounding on someone's door. It turns out that she is trying to find her TA (Scott) to lose her virginity to. Jake and Lainey end up having one night stand, and don't see each other until they meet at a Love Addicts group in New York. Not wanting to risk any new relationships on having a sexual fling, they become platonic friends who give each other advice on their dating lives. Lainey apparently did meet up with that TA, and he is now a married man with a baby on the way. Jake is newly obsessed with his current boss, played by Amanda Peet. The problems of the characters aren't anything new, but their chemistry and constant support of one another make the film both introspective and endearingly funny.Like in "Thanks for Sharing," sex addiction doesn't actually get explored as well as it could. In that film we follow three different couples all grappling with sex addiction, and each story isn't given enough time to be explored, which makes the film meandering and needless. This film kind of peters out on its main theme (though it's about love addiction not sex addiction) immediately, in order to explore the characters and really focus on their relationship rather than making this a social issue film. Love addiction doesn't seem like it makes sense as the film's major theme, because Jake doesn't seem to love anyone but himself, and Lainey cheats on her only love interest.The film stresses that these two people have not had any healthy relationships since their one night stand thirteen years prior. While it's admirable to include love, or sex addiction, as your theme, it's not needed here. These two people are complex and funny without the need for adding contemporary themes and complicating the plot.

I'm a little surprised at all the negative reviews here. It's hard to imagine what the reviewers found missing. Romance? Comedy? Or both? Because I found plenty of each. I will say that I can see how you need to be able to relate to the lifestyles depicted to appreciate the film. Because if you can't, this might as well be about life on Mars.This is a smart movie. And the concept is pretty original, considering the difficulty of deviating from the restrictions of the genre. The leads are immensely likable and each able to toss off complex comedic riffs with ease. And I very much enjoyed seeing Adam Scott play the heavy. Not easy to portray a dull-as-donuts bad guy, but he pulled it off.Despite the "truthiness" of the dialog, the movie does share one thing with all romantic comedies: it's a wet dream for the love hungry. Especially for those folks who juggle and struggle with the reality of modern relationships. The lead characters wear a veneer of cynical sophistication that many of us use as protective shields. But, as is expected from a rom-com, the veneer cracks. And we're glad when it does.I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, but be warned: it is a movie for grown ups.

Great cast, wonderful chemistry, and downright touching performances help this wonderful screenplay achieve a home run. Plus, the director needs to take a bow. This was a great effort.The story had me in the first five minutes, but it did not go where I thought it was going, What a delightful surprise that was.The chemistry between the two leads could not have been better, and I ended up caring deeply about them.Lots of snappy dialog, which is where most of the laughs came from. I had the best time watching this one, and I was sad when it was over. This is definitely a "Must See" movie. To me, it was perfect.

A generic rom-com in which the focus is on how the two leads should not have sex with each other, but instead help each other with their own relationship problems. This becomes difficult when they discover they've fallen for each other, but cannot let that secret out.Both Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie are funny people, they both get a few laughs here with some pretty humourless material. They play their characters are broken pieces of sex crazed objects. He can't have a steady relationship because he just sleeps around, she can't have one because she is obsessed with an ex boyfriend who is married. Both of them are the last people you'd want as role models but they manage to be role models for each other in their own unique and twisted ways. With the film being about lots of sex, Brie has the troublesome task of being the sex symbol of the film. She has some moments to show off that side (lingerie fashion show) but the film just feels unsexy at times. It's a little off putting because the sex comedy is second to the emotional drama. Neither really prove to be THAT effective, but simply serviceable to the material. The film is plain, ordinary and not much else. I doubt I will remember anything about this film a few days from now, other than Brie in the aforementioned lingerie. Unless you're a fan of these two, I'd say this is a film you can totally skip. It's neither good, nor bad. It's the weird line down the middle.