Joe Swanberg's almost-wonderful new film (a Chicago-set rom-com) resembles a Friday night happy hour: you want it to last for ever, yet leave feeling slightly bloated and blah. Kate (Olivia Wilde), is adored by all the men at the trendy brewery where she works, but Luke (Jake Johnson), is the only one she adores back. Kate and Luke, by the way, are both in serious relationships.
The acting and improv, by the whole cast, is sublime, with Anna Kendrick outstanding as Luke's girlfriend, Jill. Yet the dynamic between the trio is rather familiar. A bit Gone with the Wind, in fact. Remember that flip-flopper, Ashley Wilkes? Yep, Luke is one of those.
One last thing: the wannabe hip brewery boss is played by Wilde's real-life fiancée, Jason Sudeikis. As one of the jealous boys in the brewery might say, “Boy, I'd never have put THOSE two together.”
