Writer/Director Nikole Beckwith’s second Directorial effort brings her to Sundance for the second time. This is just the first time you’ll hear about the second time around in this review for ‘Together Together’.
This Ed Helms/Patti Harrison film is a non-conventional, non-romantic, platonic-love/comedy. While a Comedy with a traditional three act structure, a 90 minute run time, and all the ‘Feels’ you’d expect from the genre; Together Together tells the story of two people you don’t normally see in these films.
The Plot – Together Together
Matt is 45 and single. He’s not ‘un-married’, not divorced, not widowed. He’s just a guy who’s never gotten lucky in love. Matt’s so alone, he created a ‘Loner’ App. You can swipe left, swipe right; and NEVER have to talk to a person. Turns out, there is ‘An App For That’.
Now, closer to 50 than 40, Matt feels his clock ticking. Matt, played by Ed Helms, wants to be a Dad, but doesn’t have the wife/significant other to give him a child. He has the love in his heart to be a parent and the money in the bank to support a family, but as a man, he can’t get pregnant without a uterus.
Anna is 26 and numb. She doesn’t have kids, has not married, and is not anywhere close to having a career. Anna is the kind of woman who’d rather just blend in than be the center of attention. She’d like to go back to school and start a career, but lacks the money to do so. Anna, played by Patti Harrison, does, however, have a uterus.
We meet Anna interviewing to be a surrogate; to carry a baby for someone else, and get paid to do so. Anna’s self-conscious and nervous; and skittish answering personal questions. Matt dutifly takes notes, looking like a doctor silently judging his patient.
Anna and Matt seem to get along, and come to an agreement. Matt contributes the sperm, Donor #45883 gives the egg, and Anna put’s the bun in the oven.
The most un-likely two-some to go through a pregnancy in a Comedy since ‘Knocked Up’ 14 years ago (yes, 2007 is 14 years ago in 2021), each of our leads has been through the ringer and has the emotional scars to prove it. Matt lacks confidence, walking on eggs shells, and afraid to offend with every innocuous comment. Anna walks around stiff as a board and seemingly lacks the ability to smile. The ONLY person Anna seems to have a human connection with is Jules, her co-worker at the coffee shop.
Matt and Anna visit the OBGYN, a couples therapist, played by stand up Tig Notaro, and get an ultrasound. The ultrasound technician, brilliantly played by Sufe Bradshaw, wants to give Anna an INTERNAL ultrasound. You can guess how comfortable Matt is with this development!
As we go through the traditional scenes you expect from a traditional pregnancy comedy; we see just how non-traditional our protagonists are. Matt decides to meet Anna at her house and give her a present. However, he runs into Anna’s hookup just as he’s leaving, and confronts her about it. While Matt has grown enough of a pair to voice his displeasure at her getting pleasure, he still is uncomfortable even saying the medical term for female reproductive organs.
To help solve the dispute, our non-couple goes to their therapist; who’s not afraid to go line-by-line through their contract that lists prohibited activities. One of the funnier scenes in the film, but also a nice turning point for the way Matt and Anna relate to each other.
The Good
Matt and Anna have both been left somewhat damaged by their lives.
Picture Ed Helms’ character ‘Andy’ from The Office. Andy had a crush on Erin for several seasons, but waited for HER to ask him out. If Andy had never found the courage to FINALLY ask her out, imagine the emotional pain and skittish behavior he’d have in life 10 years later. That is Matt.
Anna wasn’t lying when she said she wasn’t a Mom, however she did have a lie of omission by failing to mention she got pregnant in high school. The dominoes that fell afterwards in her life have left her damaged, as well. Anna doesn’t want anyone to know she’s pregnant, not even Jules, played by Julio Torres.
The emotional growth we see from Helms and Harrison throughout the film is subtle and natural. The unlikely friendship we see develop between Matt and Anna is honest and heartfelt. Both start to come out of their shells, and start to step out of their comfort zones for the benefit of the other. They bond over color swatches for the baby’s room, and by watching ‘Friends’ as they become friends.
Eventually, Matt and Anna’s friendship grows enough to share the sob stories that are their character’s backstories. The first truly vulnerable moments for each character, we see just how alone they each feel. By the time they agree to NOT find out the sex of the baby at the second ultrasound, and instead refer to it by the name “Lamp”, a strong bond seals the friendship.
By the time we reach the third act in the third trimester, we know there will be no romance. Anna compares Matt’s age difference with her to Woody Allen, and Matt recognizes his second chance is the baby, and Anna’s second chance is going away to school. The mutual acknowledgement of incompatibility of When Harry Met Sally, and the opposites bonding during the journey of pregnancy of Knocked Up.
The Bad
There is very little lacking in this film. If/when the Blu-Ray of Together Together is released, I hope we can see the deleted scenes from this film to see what was left out. The editing and flow of the film are spot on, which is what should happen. But, it usually means some good gems remain on the cutting room floor.
The Review – Together Together
The character arcs and comedic timing of Together Together execute perfectly. Ed Helms and Patti Harrison give subtle, nuanced performances of two characters damaged, but not too jaded to want a second chapter.
The warmth and hope for this blossoming platonic relationship is not any lesser for lacking romance. And, that’s sort of the point. Anna and Matt are not the characters you would see in any other Rom-Com, because of the very fact that there’s no ‘Rom’.
The three act structure for the three trimester pregnancy fits like a glove. The multiple montages throughout the film help the story pacing and include extra content without causing the overall runtime to drag on too long.
There may not be the traditional happy ending you expect from a feel good comedy, but the warmth and hope of re-birth AFTER the baby’s birth bring the story home.
Absolutely worth watching! Go see this film! 90 Minute, Not Rated.
Additional Information
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt11285280
Sundance Film Festival 2021 Movie Ranking
Dragon Movie Guy’s Sundance 2021 Review – In The Earth
https://reviewnation.net/sundance-2021-review-in-the-earth-dragon-movie-guy-review-nation/
Dragon Movie Guy’s Sundance 2021 Review – John And The Hole
https://reviewnation.net/john-and-the-hole-review-sundance-2021-dragon-movie-guy-review-nation/
Score
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Review Nation Score
Ed Helms and Patti Harrison shine in Together Together. Writer/Director Nikole Beckwith's Platonic-Comedy is her second film at Sundance Film Festival.
