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Sleeping with Other People

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Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie in Sleeping with Other People. (SK Pictures)
Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie in Sleeping with Other People. (SK Pictures)

What it's about:

New Yorkers Lainey and Jake meet, by chance, twelve years after a one-night stand in college, and discover that they have the same problem: because of their monogamy-challenged ways, neither can maintain a relationship. Determined to stay friends despite their mutual attraction, they make a pact to keep it platonic—a deal that proves easier said than done.

What we thought:

I used to believe rom-coms were the most unrealistic films out there, portraying relationships as chance encounters with your soul-mate and you’ll live happily ever after. These days however rom-coms have gotten a reality check and although I finally find myself in that age group that rom-coms normally target, I find them more relatable than ever, and Sleeping with Other People got onto my list of films I actually identify with. And surprise surprise, it was written and directed by a woman.

In this romantic adventure a woman (Alison Brie) struggling to quit cheating with an emotionally unavailable douchebag reconnects with the man (Jason Sudeikis) she lost her virginity to in college – who it turns out can’t keep it in his pants and commit to relationships. They decide to be just friends, and through their friendship come to terms with their insecurities and grow up, even if it may not be with each other.

Brie and Sudeikis sounded like the most bizarre pairing, but they were adorable together onscreen. Extremely comfortable with each other like their characters onscreen, they definitely gave you those #relationshipgoals vibes, even though they aren’t in one. Movie romances that are born out of a platonic intimacy always seem more heartfelt than others, and they don’t hide their sexual attraction to each other either – they just decide to work around it. Whether or not they are mature adults is another question, but many of their insecurities and emotional dilemmas spoke to me on many levels, and I think will to others. Also, it’s pretty hilarious. You will never look at a glass bottle the same way.

All of this was realised by Leslye Headland (Bachelorette, About Last Night), who directed and wrote the screenplay for this movie. Although I am not familiar with her previous work, I will be on the look out for her future work if Sleeping with Other People is anything to judge by. Although some of the characters got a little caught up in their own personalities and lost connection with the whole film, the movie brought forward its own brand of rom-com that provides valuable input to the comedy scene.

And besides the main leads, the judgmental married couple is all of us leaving our irresponsible adulthood for our responsible adulthood. You weren’t too sure if you should laugh at them or cry with them, but they were still the other best thing in this movie. That and Brie going lingerie shopping.

I enjoyed Sleeping with Other People to bits, and an easy all-rounder watch if you aren't too sensitive to overtly sexual jokes. It might have taken forever to reach South African cinemas, but it was well worth the wait.


 


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