Review of Trust the Man (2005) by Carley J — 15 Jan 2012

This is a movie that you could be a lot better than it is. But before you dismiss it as another piece of crap, you realize that it isn't meant to be taken so seriously. You see the movie for what it is: a romantic comedy about upscale New Yorkers who have difficulty coping with their love lives.

Sure, the premise may lack orginality, but the actors bring heart and depth to characters that would, otherwise, be considered shallow, selfish and superficial. David Duchovny and Julianne Moore (my favorite) star as a sex-starved-stay-at-home-dad and a pre-meno-pausal actress, respectively.

Their marriage is in shambles and needs a face lift (to which Moore's character suggests injecting with Botox). Maggie Gyllenhaal and Billy Crudup co-star as the younger couple with similar problems.

Crudup plays the insecure, conflict-avoiding slacker who isn't ready to commit to Gyllenhaal's demands for a family of their own. The plot is somewhat predictable and is sprinkled with cheese here and there.

But depending on your tastes in dairy products, that could be a good thing. The melo-dramatic storyline is offset by some pretty hilarious pranks (inluding Duchovny's subtle humor and sexual antics) and juxtaposed with some crass humor that are likely to summon some chuckles and even some whole-hearted belly laughs.

The movie is smarter than it seems; has an amazing cast and oozes with good intention. Trust me on that!