Just Married film review

certificate_12A

JUST MARRIED

Shawn Levy's romantic comedy was a surprise number one box hit in America - the surprise being that so many people fell for the film's mismatched lead couple and the obvious humour. Let us pray British audiences have more taste.

Tom Leezak (Ashton Kutcher) and his beautiful wife Sarah (Brittany Murphy) return from their Honeymoon in Europe ready for an immediate divorce. The time away from their respective families has been an absolute disaster, starting with ejection from a five star hotel in Switzerland for overloading the electrical system with a vibrating sex toy, and culminating in both parties almost sleeping with other people - in Sarah's case, her persistent ex, Peter (Christian Kane).

Back at home, Tom and Sarah begin to realise how much they truly love each other, but can they get past the nightmarish memories of their time abroad? Especially when her snooty parents (David Rasche, Veronica Cartwright) are so delighted that their daughter is longer with a loser like Tom?

Both leads are gifted comic actors in their own right, and they make the most of the meagre scraps that writer Sam Harper throws their way (invariably pratfalls and cartoon violence). Unfortunately, neither Tom nor Sarah are particularly likable or sympathetic. For example, during a few days in glorious Venice, Tom abandons his lovely wife to spend the afternoon watching sport in a local bar. Hardly the actions of a new groom still in the throes of wedded bliss.

The ending works surprisingly well and the tearful reunion (you knew it was coming) is arguably the most satisfying and well executed part of the entire film. Murphy and Kutcher work tirelessly to generate some semblance of sexual chemistry. On the latter point, they fail - in fact, there's far more chemistry between Murphy and Kane.

You have to wonder how much better Just Married would be with them as the disillusioned newlyweds and Kutcher fooling about as the hapless ex. Just average, I'm afraid.