5 to 7

What it's about:

A chance encounter on the streets of Manhattan draws 20-something aspiring writer Brian into a passionate love affair with a glamorous French woman. The catch? She’s married, and can only meet him for hotel room trysts between 5 and 7. As Brian yearns for more than just two hours a day with the woman of his dreams, he learns hard-won lessons about life and love.

What we thought:

I have to admit when I first saw the trailer for the movie I was a bit on the fence. But I was pleasantly surprised by this romantic comedy.

While it does employ certain elements of the genre it is not your typical rom-com as there’s a twist.

Brian Bloom (Anton Yelchin) is a struggling aspiring writer who  spends his days writing, sending stories to publishers and then being rejected. He has an entire wall of rejection letters to show. Despite not having a job though he does live in a swanky flat in Manhattan.

When he is not writing he spends his days walking around in Central Park reading the dedications on the park benches. One day while taking his usual walk he sees a beautiful woman standing outside a hotel smoking. On pure impulse he goes up to her and perks her interest when he spouts some pick up lines.
Arielle (Berenice Marlohe), a French beauty, is charmed by Brian.

And so they embark on a liason, but it is not entirely perfect. It turns out Arielle  has an open marriage with a  French diplomat, Valery (Lambert Wilson) and has two children. The pair can only see each other between the hours of 5 to 7.

As if it isn’t complicated enough he meets her kids, he goes to have supper with her family where he meets important connections and her husband’s 5 to 7  book editor (too convenient maybe) Jane (Olivia Thirlby).

Arielle then meets his Jewish (obviously affluent parents) Arlene (Glenn Close) and Sam (Frank Langella). The little arrangement doesn’t sit too well with his staunch dad, but his mom is quite taken by the French beauty who obviously loves her son.

Yes, there is a lot going on here! That’s about all I will reveal about the plot. Brian does narrate certain parts of the film and throughout there are still shots of dedications on the park benches.

Anton Yelchin has a certain charm about him that makes his character so attractive. Being somewhat of a writer I can admire his persistence to chase his dream, even though his parents keep harping on about law school.  He might not be your typical leading man but there’s just something about him.

While he and Berenice Marlohe might not have that ‘zing’ chemistry and they might be an odd couple, they somehow make it work. There’s a friendship there and for me that made them a believable couple.

Glenn Close and Sam Frank Langella are definitely worth the mention! Their banter and witty dialogue provide some comedic relief.

This rom-com basically takes the genre and turns it on its head. It explores that dreaded disease called love. And there are truly some gems that will make you nod your head. If there’s one thing we can all identify with, it’s a broken heart.

It also delves into the world of a writer and how going through heartache has inspired many great stories.

All in all it does depict a more realistic view of love found and lost and it will leave you with a heavy heart. It is definitely worth the watch even if it’s just for the beautiful New York setting.