Movie Information
Release Date: September 11, 2015
Director: Leslye Headland
Writer: Leslye Headland
Cast: Alison Brie, Jason Sudeikis, Jordan Carlos, Margarita Levieva, Charles Cain, Adam Brody, Michael Cyril Creighton, Billy Eichner, Jason Mantzoukas, Margaret Odette, Amanda Peet, Victoria Frings, Adam Scott, Natasha Lyonne, Andrea Savage, Sawyer Shipman, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Carlo Alban, Remy Nozik
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 101 minutes
Production Company: Gloria Sanchez Productions, IM Global, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, IFC Films (USA)
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Country: USA
Budget: N/A
It’s not too often that a mature adult comedy comes around addressing matters most are too afraid to discuss. It’s even better when that art form, flips the rules society has catered to regarding men vs. women. ‘Sleeping with other People’ knows exactly what it is, and is laugh out loud funny. The characters are real, their stories felt warm, and it entertains in a weird unique way.
I’m surprised with the outcome of second time writer/director Leslye Headland with this R-rated comedy. Not having seen her first directorial debut ‘Bachelorette’, it’s now on my radar as a must see. She was able to include real life vulgarity and crudeness, without it being immature and boisterous. The way it was infused with the story was the exact excuse needed to pull off its explicit nature. I found myself on multiple occasions picking my jaw off the floor from the past dick joke, and saying to myself, “given the situation, that makes perfect sense.” It’s clear Leslye Headland sat down with laser focus to hash out a script that served both the characters and story equally.
Jake (Jason Sudeikis) has his own psychology about the way the dating world works. He’s strict to a set of rules, and emotions that runs his everyday life. It’s like he has memorized an emotional reaction to every outcome before it happens. Under all of his bravado he has a soft heart, and seems to try and hide it whenever possible. Lainey (Alison Brie) is her own little version of sexy mixed with cute. She looks like your sweet little innocent sister, but isn’t and might get you fooled. She knew how to let loose at the right time, and just let the moment take over. It’s hard not to like her, and the relationship these two have together locks in place on multiple levels. The writing regarding their reunion is special, clever, and gives good reason to exist strong.
There’s no shortage of laughter, and may be difficult trying not to. Whatever amount of greatness the story, and characters deliver, the comedy has just the same. There weren’t too many dull moments, with the film flowing as it should. It ends as great as it starts, with a barrage of jokes towards the credits. I loved how honest the film is, and how it shines light on young adulthood. It’s a great fun, and the perfect movie to watch with friends.
