Review of Take This Waltz (2011) by Larry T — 21 Jul 2012

"Take This Waltz" is an occasionally warm, witty and sensual movie about relationships and marriage in modern times that does go on a little too long. To explore such heady themes, it starts with a bit of foreshadowing in the past at the Louisbourg historic site where Margot(Michelle Williams) has gone to audition for a writing job. While there to find out she did not miss out on a calling as a dominatrix, she meets Daniel(Luke Kirby), an artist who makes a living by pulling a rickshaw. He not only also lives in Toronto, and not only in the same neighborhood but in fact lives across the street from her. So, the two strike up a friendship under the nose of Margot's husband of five years, Lou(Seth Rogen), who is working on a cookbook exclusively about chicken.

All of this should be better than it is, considering the impressive collection of talent, and writer-director Sarah Polley's keen visual sense(not to mention her choosing a great 80's pop song which encapsulates perfectly some of the movie's themes). What works against "Take This Waltz" is that I have deep problems with the character of Margot. It's not that I think she is unlikable. It's quite the reverse, actually. In fact, it is like she never grew up and is still childlike with a thing for new and shiny toys(even though she is reminded that all new things get old eventually), well past the age when it would be considered attractive.(But I do understand the fear about connections since my last couple of intercity bus connections were kind of screwy.) Some of that could be put down to having no independent life or career of her own in contrast to Lou's great extended family. So, Lou is starting to grow annoyed since he is so occupied with other matters and Daniel is not afraid to call her out on it. So, is the grass always greener on the other side? Just remember that the important thing is not what you do with a person, but the person you are with.