I Give It A Year

At first glance I Give It A Year looks like the kind of standard cookie cutter British rom-com that people avoid like the plague unless it has a Hollywood A-lister above the title. However, though the main storyline (two couples realise they are with the wrong person) is hardly original, the film works as it plays on a number of feelings and scenarios that anyone who has been in a bad relationship can relate to, it’s very funny in places and the cast seem up for it. A quick summary of the story has Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) attempting to survive the first few rocky months of their new marriage (hence a friends side comment at their wedding of the film’s title), with things not helped by the reappearance of Josh’s ex (played by Anna Faris) or the arrival of a good looking business man (Simon Baker) at Nat’s work. Being a rom-com many of the laughs are gained from situations of possible social embarrassment (purchasing ladies underwear, charades with the in-laws), topped by a toe-curlingly scene of awkwardness when Josh and Nat are talking to Nat’s parents and photos of their sexual endeavours from their honeymoon are flashing up on a digital photo frame in the background. Yes, there’s plenty of crudity, but isn’t that the norm for the more adult rom-com these days? First time director (and scripter here) Dan Mazer is best known for writing Borat (good) and Bruno (hmm..not so good), but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a filth fest. Mazer’s script plays more on the verbal laughs than anything, especially with Stephen Merchant doing his usual shtick (this time as a best man, including the killer line of the film said to a bride on her wedding day “You’re a real 8 out of 10, love”). There are plenty of flaws though, including the nagging thought that it’s almost impossible to believe that (despite some flashbacks) Nat and Josh would ever have got together in the first place (they’re just too different) and some snipping should have been done in the editing room of some scenes that run with the same joke for too long. Plus, Olivia Colman as a sweary husband hating guidance councillor shouldn’t have even made it from the page to the screen. All in all, you probably wouldn’t ever watch this a second time, but for a directorial debut this isn’t a bad first attempt at all.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict

File under “Funnier than you’d though it would be”. Rating: 7/10.