Comedy Pick – I Give It A Year (2013)
The staples of typical British romcoms are given a tweak in I Give It A Year, forcing the film to address what happens AFTER the happy ending. Whereas most formulas revolve around throwing together two seemingly incompatible people for 90 minutes, only for them to realize their irritation is actually a sadistic foreplay, this Working Title production betrays that blueprint.
Instead, we’re ushered into the lives of newlyweds Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall), whose first year of wedded bliss we witness in spluttering flashbacks as the two sit with a marriage counselor. That’s not to say the film doesn’t conform to some of the genre trappings. After all, there’s a buffoon best friend. Played by Stephen Merchant, the rule of sidekicks dictates that he bags all of the best gags. As Josh’s best man, he aims for a risky gamble during his speech which winds up insulting the bride and making the speaker appear as a total underage lech. It’s classic Merchant.
The surprises emerge from the fact that Nat and Josh may indeed be completely wrong for each other – with the main romantic longings occurring outside of the marriage for the both of them. In other words, a welcome change from the obvious plot turns romcoms are bound by. With both parties desperate to mend their failing union, there’s a ton of set-ups that are destined to end in tears – which means, plenty of laughs. During a Christmas spent with Nat’s family, Josh’s turn at charades (Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman) results in him thrusting away at the geriatric members of Nat’s family. You know, in an attempt to rhyme ‘Quinn’ with ‘quim’ – that old euphemism for a woman’s special area.
Proof that comedies don’t always have to lean on the predictability of recycled stories, I Give It A Year might still contain the yearning for an all-encompassing love – but it comes at a very funny price.
