Review of Life Partners (2014) by Kevin P — 14 Mar 2018

Strengths: Usually, a "coming of age" film comes for characters much earlier in life. However, this film does a good job looking at a situation that is all too familiar for people. Sasha (Leighton Meester) is nearing 30 and doesn't really have a clue what to do with her life. It's a relatable tale and Meester does well in the role. The real highlight of the film is Gillian Jacobs (Paige). She's the more likable one. Her and Meester have great chemistry, which she also shares with Adam Brody (Tim). The supporting cast is filled with people who are funny and give a great effort in their roles. Abby Elliot (Vanessa), Greer Grammer (Mia), and Beth Dover (Jenn) stood out. I also appreciated the way it handled Sasha being a lesbian. It was part of the story, but it didn't beat you over the head with it or try to make some preachy tale of it. Lastly, both main characters felt like they grew over the course of the film and had true arcs.

Weaknesses: Though Sasha goes through a fair amount in the film, she comes across as unlikable at times. Or maybe not totally unlikable, but not exactly as someone I want to root for. Some of the timeline in the film feels odd. Since they don't directly tell us how much time has passed, seeing Tim propose to Paige feels like it was kind of rushed. Speaking of them, I wish a bit more time was spent to show the good in their relationship. While the focal point was Sasha and Paige, most of what we see between Paige and Tim is them kind of annoying each other. Lastly, though this is billed as a romantic comedy, there aren't many laughs.

Overall: It's a sweet film overall. There's some heart to it and it tackles friendship over your typical romance, which is different and I liked that. The two lead actresses bring the goods, with Jacobs impressing again in an indie flick. Recommendation to watch.