Do you remember how it felt when you fell in love for the first time? Is your mind running back to the initial encounter between you and your significant other, or are your ears burning from the intimate details of a steamy one-night-stand? Fresh-smelling bouquets and heartbreak notwithstanding, love makes fools of us all, and it certainly makes for some great films.
Admit it. Even if you base your entire reputation around the fact that you’ve never seen “The Notebook,” there is probably at least one romantic film in existence that melts away the crusty cynicism surrounding your pessimistic heart. Who wouldn’t want their own rain-covered Ryan Gosling to write them a letter every day for an entire year? Be honest. By the way, if you’re still pretending that you’ve never seen “The Notebook,” no one believes you.
On the other hand, “In a Relationship” could not be more different than a Nicholas Sparks adaptation. The debut film from writer/director Sam Boyd adopts a decidedly minimal style for the entirety of its 92-minute duration and seldom strays from the confines of real life. Authenticity overtakes sentimentality, and any semblance of ideal outcomes is tossed out the window within the opening minutes of the first act.
The plot of “In a Relationship” centers around two couples occupying the opposite ends of the love spectrum over the course of a summer in Los Angeles: Hallie and Owen (Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano) have reached the conclusion of their relationship, while Willa and Matt (Dree Hemingway, Patrick Gibson) are busy counting the butterflies in their stomachs. As July fades into August, and August melts into September, the friend group struggles to find exactly what love means to each of them while learning to balance the complexities of romance in the 21st century.
Sound interesting? Unfortunately, it isn’t, and this fact ultimately leads to the film’s downfall. Think of all the clichés that people typically associate with indie films, and you’ll find them executed perfectly here. You can practically use “In a Relationship” as the template for a theoretical indie dramedy toolkit. Los Angeles setting? Check. Cutesy montages and somewhat obscure pop-culture references? Yep. How about yuppie characters who work as artists? Don’t worry, that’s here too.
Speaking of characters, both couples constantly fluctuate between fussy and outright infuriating without possessing a single likable characteristic, to the point that their interactions grow increasingly exhausting to watch. Granted, there is not a cinematic rule that requires all films to feature inherently likable main characters; “You Were Never Really Here” and “Hereditary,” two of the year’s best releases, both succeed despite featuring extremely flawed protagonists. But, if you are set on depriving your characters of any charming attributes, you should strive to make them compelling, or at the very least, interesting. However, the movie’s dialogue never rises above chuckle-worthy, and any dramatic tension fizzles out before accumulating the momentum to push forward.
To make matters worse, the dramedy’s skimpy plot chases its tail without a clear intent before concluding in an eye-rolling whimper, while somehow still finding time to introduce subplots that lead to absolutely nothing whatsoever. Even lesbian love trysts and cocaine use cannot kick-start any meaningful side tangents. While Boyd strives to keep “In a Relationship” as close-to-life as possible — which, in concept, is admirable — this tact cannot disparage the fact that the film plays out like a joyless reality show led by a gang of annoying archetypes.
Relatedly, the performances from the main cast, which, admittedly, function as one of the film’s redeeming graces, cannot save the film from drowning beneath the self-imposed weight of trying to be too relatable for its own good. “In a Relationship” holds all the depth and emotional resonance of scrolling through an LA hipster’s Twitter feed in the aftermath of a break-up. In short, it is entirely unpleasant and more than a bit trite.
In terms of longevity, Boyd’s debut will probably endure as a calling card for the filmmaker’s future endeavors. “In a Relationship” lays out the director’s talents (working with actors and crafting tone) while also showcasing the areas where improvements can be made. The movie is an inspired, commendable first attempt, but in the end, falls prey to forgettability without achieving any sort of success. Honestly, you’d be better off renting “The Notebook.” [D+]