The last time we saw the names Jason Segel, Emily Blunt and Nicholas Stoller all together, it was for absolutely wretched “Gulliver’s Travels.” That said, the talent lining up for the Segel and Stoller-penned “Five Year Engagement” is proving to be promising, and if it lands anywhere in the ballpark of their previous collaborative efforts like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek,” we’ll be pleased as punch.
Variety reports that Chris Pratt has joined and Rhys Ifans is in talks for the film; this movement being the latest on the project that saw Alison Brie join yesterday. The film follows the relationship rollercoaster of a couple across the titular pre-wedding period with Segel describing the project last year as being in the vein of “Annie Hall” or “When Harry Met Sally.” Those are some big targets to hit, but we like the ambition.
No word yet on the parts either thesp is being tapped for but both are solid choices. Pratt has simply been killing it on “Parks & Recreation” as the hapless Andy Dwyer and he’s got a big year coming up with roles in “Moneyball,” “What’s Your Number?” and “Ten Year” and of course, he’s in “Take Me Home Tonight” which opens tomorrow. As for Ifans, he’s taking a bit stride into the tentpole world as Lizard in the upcoming “The Amazing Spider-Man,” but as any casual cinephile knows, he’s a solid character actor up and down giving great turns most recently in films like “Greenberg” and “The Boat That Rocked,”.
Production on the film will begin at the end of April and we hope that Pratt will port over his FBI persona of Bert Macklin.
