Just Married

Review by Clint Morris

They say love is a many splendid thing, but what they’re forgetting to mention is that it also comes with confusion, eventfulness, courageousness, and often-difficult hurdles.

Not every day is bliss, not every day is anguish. And your loved-one isn’t going to resemble a glistening angel on every day of the year – and neither are you to them.

Suffice to say, love – and imminent marriage – does have its ups and downs.

There will be good times, and there will be bad times.

And sometimes you’ll feel there’s more downs than ups, as director Shawn Levy explores in his new film Just Married.

A bubbly, bright, and monstrously funny movie about the honeymoon from hell, Levy’s film centres on Tom and Sarah Leezak (Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy) a newlywed couple who come to the conclusion that their perfect relationship is ruined by a rushed marriage... And almost kill each other on the disastrous honeymoon.

Flashback to more contented times, back to their initial meeting and night of passion, followed by months of cohabitation and the wedding Sarah's snooty family didn't want to see happen.

Then, the overseas Honeymoon – one disaster after another: Getting kicked out of hotels, crashing their car, being too tired to make love, falling through walls and, ultimately, forming an unwanted triangle when Sarah’s ex inconveniently pops up.

"You never see the hard days in a photo album, but they're what get you from one happy photo to the next." Tom’s dad tells his distraught son upon arriving back - and so begins the re-courting.

Just Married is a delight. Real-life lovebirds, Kutcher and Murphy are a great team – the chemistry almost melts from the screen. Kutcher, in particular, shows great potential is a physical comedian.

In lesser roles, Christian Kane (TV’s Angel), David Moscow (who you may remember as Josh Baskin in 1987’s Big), Monet Mazur, David Rasche and Veronica Cartwright add weighty support to proceedings.

Reminiscent of comedies like National Lampoon’s Vacation (1984) and The Money Pit (1985), Married revels in its offbeat humour, lashings of physical comedy, and superb writing.

A lot of the credit should go to director Shawn Levy (Big Fat Liar), reconfirming his stature as one of comedy’s directors to watch. He keeps proceedings light, but also lively throughout. His film does tend to lack a little something in the latter half, but with such a terrific first piece and ultimately touching finale – we’ll forgive that mere injustice.

One for the girls…but also one for the guys, Just Married is one of the year’s best surprise packages. It's funny, touching, and wholly enjoyable.

3.5 out of 5

Just Married
Australian release: Thursday February 20
Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Brittany Murphy, Christian Kane, David Moscow, David Rasche, Veronica Cartwright.
Director: Shawn Levy.
Website: Click here

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