I Give It A Year is a new comedy from the producers of Love Actually, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill. Which is a good thing. Obviously. Highly successful and entertaining British comedies. It’s directed by Ben Mazer, a man who has written quite alot of stuff for Da Ali G Show, wrote Borat, wrote Bruno, Ali G Indahouse, so mostly pretty good. No pressure then!
Thankfully I Give It A Year is rather damn good! Starring Rafe Spall, Minnie Driver, Simon Baker, Anna Farris and Rose Byrne, Dan Mazer’s script tells the story of a couple who got married after only a few months and subsequently things start unravelling all before they even get to their first anniversary, as they realise they may not exactly be right for each other.
With an ex and a handsome “yank” (Baker) on the scene for husband and wife the story is recounted from a number of memories told to the most lacklustre marriage counsellor known to man. This works particularly well as quite an amount of these memories involve horrific best man speeches to the greatest, digital picture frame moment ever featured on film. And when things turn back onto the counsellor, more hilarity ensues. And of course you have the whole will he or won’t she scenario, which works rather brilliantly. I Give It A Year has that quintessential British feel about it, but is funnier and less stuffy than it’s producers aforementioned movie credits.
The cast are pretty much perfect here, with enough contrast and chemistry between them all to keep you glued to their every word. Granted Minnie Driver (who is tragically under used) steals every scene she’s in and Stephen Merchant without doubt steals the entire movie. From his hilarious best man speech to a multitude of other scenes, Merchant is hilarious. But what about Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall? Rose is incredibly beautiful and passionate throughout and gives a great glimpse into the whole progression of the marriage going from bad to worse. The same can be said for Rafe Spall who is incredibly likeable and annoying at the same time, and as much as you feel for him, you never feel sorry for him. And all in a good way. The two items of temptation, Simon Baker and Anna Faris are equally good here, but its the sincerity and subtleness of Anna Faris that will really hook you in.
Overall, I Give It A Year is another romantic comedy and while it has its twists and turns it suffers from an element of predictability. But with such a good script (excluding those predictable parts) and an outstanding cast it’s easy to forgive its shortcomings.
We haven’t had a really decent British rom-com since Love Actually, but that’s all changed now! And even for the hardened anti rom com fans, try as you might, this is infectious stuff and you will crack quite quickly. I Give It A Year is genuinely hilarious and certainly worthy of your time.
Thankfully I Give It A Year is rather damn good! Starring Rafe Spall, Minnie Driver, Simon Baker, Anna Farris and Rose Byrne, Dan Mazer’s script tells the story of a couple who got married after only a few months and subsequently things start unravelling all before they even get to their first anniversary, as they realise they may not exactly be right for each other.
With an ex and a handsome “yank” (Baker) on the scene for husband and wife the story is recounted from a number of memories told to the most lacklustre marriage counsellor known to man. This works particularly well as quite an amount of these memories involve horrific best man speeches to the greatest, digital picture frame moment ever featured on film. And when things turn back onto the counsellor, more hilarity ensues. And of course you have the whole will he or won’t she scenario, which works rather brilliantly. I Give It A Year has that quintessential British feel about it, but is funnier and less stuffy than it’s producers aforementioned movie credits.
The cast are pretty much perfect here, with enough contrast and chemistry between them all to keep you glued to their every word. Granted Minnie Driver (who is tragically under used) steals every scene she’s in and Stephen Merchant without doubt steals the entire movie. From his hilarious best man speech to a multitude of other scenes, Merchant is hilarious. But what about Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall? Rose is incredibly beautiful and passionate throughout and gives a great glimpse into the whole progression of the marriage going from bad to worse. The same can be said for Rafe Spall who is incredibly likeable and annoying at the same time, and as much as you feel for him, you never feel sorry for him. And all in a good way. The two items of temptation, Simon Baker and Anna Faris are equally good here, but its the sincerity and subtleness of Anna Faris that will really hook you in.
Overall, I Give It A Year is another romantic comedy and while it has its twists and turns it suffers from an element of predictability. But with such a good script (excluding those predictable parts) and an outstanding cast it’s easy to forgive its shortcomings.
We haven’t had a really decent British rom-com since Love Actually, but that’s all changed now! And even for the hardened anti rom com fans, try as you might, this is infectious stuff and you will crack quite quickly. I Give It A Year is genuinely hilarious and certainly worthy of your time.
