Trust The Man

Review by Clint Morris

Chatty romantic-comedies are about as common as a current in a long-winding river, so it’s refreshing when someone throws the filmmakers a buoy to help one stay afloat.

Not that new ensemble piece Trust the Man doesn’t run into some jerky waters – it most certainly does, especially around its slothful hub – but for the most part, it’s talented cast and the spirited scripting keep it buoyant much longer than some analogous predecessors.

A little When Harry, Met Sally, a little Brothers McMullen, and a lot “funny”, Bart Freudlich’s highly-observant film has foursome David Duchovny, Julianne Moore, Billy Crudup and Maggie Gyllenhaal playing long-time couples who have hit a couple of disconcerting stumbling blocks in their relationships. Tom (Duchovny) and Rebecca (Moore) are having their differences in the bedroom, leading him to stray, whilst Elaine (Gyllenhaal) is beseeching a commitment from Toby (Crudup) that she’ll never get.

Typically – as they do in all these formulaic pieces – there’ll big break-ups, and then, of course, there will be make-ups.

Though it doesn’t travel on far different waters than anything else of its type, the film will keep most interested because of its likeable characters, wonderful performances – Duchovny and Crudup are especially entertaining – and snappy dialogue. And though it may take a while to get to its point, it does have one; and it’s quite a nice one of that.

Woody Allen’s going to love it.

3 out of 5

Trust The Man
Australian release: 26th October, 2006
Cast: Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, Billy Crudup, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eva Mendes
Director: Bart Freundlich
Website: Click here.