Tuesday, October 01, 2024

Movie review - "Newlyweds" (2011) ***1/2

 A delight - Ed Burns' best movie in a long time. Simple, understated, subtle. Unplotty but there is a strong story - a couple on their second marriages for both (Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald) deal with another couple(her sister is married to his mate) and his hot mess of a sister (Kerry Bishe).

Very Woody Allen with foursomes chatting in diners, and talking to camera. Some old creaky Burns lines about men and women and sex and I feel Fitzgerald's sister could've done with another scene or beat to show vulnerability (no knock on the actor who is good, she's just a little too much of a villain). 

But generally this is wonderful -a mature work, it pops along (talking to camera helps), the subplot about Fitzgerald's ex works well, the tension of the rules of a family member at home works excellently. Fitzgerald and Bishe are outstanding and Burns rises to match them - actually all the acting is strong.

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