Review of Drinking Buddies (2013) by Mary H — 29 Nov 2014

Drinking Buddies is what I wish big Hollywood strived to be. Realistic, funny, clumsy at times yes, but overall an extremely charming film. Many criticize the slow pace of the story and how nothing truly remarkable happens, but that is the beauty of this picture in my opinion. We are given a glimpse into these characters every day lives and with director Joe Swanberg giving his actors such room to breath as to let them improvise their dialogue only makes these characters feel more life-like. We may not be given the predictable happy ending we were hoping for, but the film flips the ideology of the romantic comedy on its head and gives a story that is relatable, and plausible to real life.

The story centers around Luke (Jake Johnson) and Kate (Olivia Wilde); co-workers with a mutual love for beer and both physical and comedic chemistry. Both have significant others, which complicates their feelings for each other. While Kate and her boyfriend, played by Ron Livingston show signs of relationship failure from the moment they appear on screen together, Luke and his long time girlfriend played by the beautiful Anna Kendrick have a great bond with each other. Their seriousness becomes overwhelming for Johnson's character, which has him dipping his toe into the waters of infidelity while his partner is away on a trip.

The biggest critic of the film is that Johnson and Kendrick's characters don't share the same chemistry as his character does with Wilde's. I believe these critics come from people who mis-understood the message of the film. Attraction to new people is inevitable. Meeting someone new and learning about their personality is exciting. I believe this film is about fighting the urge to jump ship on the relationship your in every time someone new and interesting enters your life. It's about acknowledging when you've found someone who cares for you deeply and who would do anything to make your life better; not throwing it away because you're attracted to another person.

Yes, the film has it's flaws. I could have done without so many drinking montages and the improvisation of lines does stumble at times. Overall though, I believe the story is refreshing, the characters are believable, life-like, relatable. If you enjoy Swanberg's other works or are looking for a reprieve from the ideas of romance that Hollywood continues to shove down our throat, this picture is for you.