Review of The Romantics (2010) by Samantha P — 01 May 2013

The Romantics caught my eye, because the trailer reminded me of The Big Chill. You know the movie, where an incestuous clique of college roommates reunite for an expected or unexpected event. In The Big Chillâ??s case, a funeral. But for The Romantics, a wedding. The title seems fitting doesnâ??t it? Well, you be the judge.

*Many spoilers ahead*.

The story begins with Laura (Katie Holmes) on her way to be the Maid of Honor to her best friend Lila (Anna Paquin), even though Lila is marrying Lauraâ??s ex-boyfriend, Tom (Josh Duhamel). All the friends seem to be aware of the awkwardness that this soap opera plot brings to the wedding weekend event. After many, many, many clumsy and inappropriate speeches at the rehearsal dinner, Laura finally delivers hers. Very nervously I might add. The bride storms out and pretends she needs silence and sleep, when really she is continuing her charade of not recognizing Tom & Lauraâ??s love, or lust. Its hard tell at this point what they feel, just that theyâ??re avoiding each other. After Lila returns to her room, the rest of the wedding party steals booze from the open bar and sets out for the shore. After much drinking and laughing, Tom disappears. Laura and the crew split up to look for him. Trip (Malin Ackerman) heads off with Jake (Adam Brody) while her husband Pete (Jeremy Strong) goes off with Jakeâ??s fiancé Weesie (Rebecca Lawrence). Laura finally finds Tom. We discover that Laura & Tom have actually been sleeping together for years. Laura, very rightfully, tells him off for treating her like shit all these years. Eventually, they end up sleeping together again. Meanwhile, Pete tells Weesie that he doesnâ??t trust his wife, and in cliche movie fashion, the two go streaking. Peteâ??s suspicions are correct because his wife, Trip does cocaine with Jake and end up making out.

The next morning, Laura awakens in the yard. Tom is nowhere in site. What kind of man leaves a woman he supposedly loves laying asleep after sex in the back yard? Anyway, all the events from last night go unacknowledged. The crew realizes Tom isnâ??t missing and the wedding is underway. Before walking down the aisle. Laura tells Lila that she slept with Tom. Lila tells her that she doesnâ??t care and she still wants to marry Tom because clearly this is Lauraâ??s fault. Claiming she has won and that Laura has always been jealous of her. The movie was going well up until this point. Often in these cases women blame the other woman for their manâ??s indiscretions. Now, Laura isnâ??t innocent. She slept with her best friendâ??s fiancé, but why doesnâ??t Lila blame Tom as well? Heâ??s the one who actually made a promise to be faithful to her, not Laura. Why does she stay with him? Simple. She wants to be married. Sheâ??d rather be married and unhappy than deal with the idea of being alone. Then thereâ??s Laura, who desperately wants to get back with a man who left her, lied to her, and used her. Why? Because she wants a man. These feelings make it hard to understand why Laura excepted the position of Maid of Honor or even why Lila asked in the first place. Whatever happened to faithfulness in not only relationships, but friendships? Chicks before dicks, ladies.

As the wedding begins, Tom stumbles on his vows, stating Lila makes him speechless. Maybe for all the good reasons, or maybe because thatâ??s exactly it: he has nothing to say. Saved by Mother Nature, it begins to pour. While the entire wedding party and guests frantically run inside, Tom & Laura stay behind at the arch. They look at each other. Tom grunts with what appears to be relief. And Laura laughs. The end. And thatâ??s it. As a viewer you might feel cheated. Is the wedding done? Or continuing inside? Does Tom marry Lila? Does he go with Laura? Why was Laura laughing? Was she laughing at the irony of rain being bad luck on your wedding day? Iâ??m assuming, Lila and Tom wonâ??t get married- clearly because he stayed outside with Laura. Words of wisdom: when a man doesnâ??t chase you, he doesnâ??t care.

Although the acting is fine with an all-star cast, I give it 2 out of 5 stars. One, because I like closure and there was none. And two, because scripts with women being idiots hurt my head.