Publisher: CinemaSerf February 17, 2024
Whilst having a shave one morning, "Stanley" (Alan Cumming) starts to regale us with the story of the demise of the relationship between his friend "Rachel" (Minnie Driver) and "James" which is then picked up by her telling her side of the story and adding a little critique of the hapless "Stanley" of whom she's become quite fond - in an affectionately platonic fashion. Even when they ended up sharing the same bed there was no sex: no insecurities or jealousies - or maybe it's precisely because these feelings did exist and nobody knew how to do anything about them? Anyway, she goes on to meet other men whom he had little good to say about. When she makes that special connection with "Mark" (Vince Leigh) and spots her confidant on the street one evening, she wants to introduce them but he goes through some almost slapstick manoeuvres to avoid her. The penny drops. He is in love! She is in love? Their relationship suffers, they no longer click. Truth will out? Well maybe not over the phone when she's a mouthful of toothpaste. Mixed messages and so a face-to-face ensues, and, well "what's meant to be will come to be"! The imagery struggles to keep pace with the dialogue here, but both actors come across as really quite natural with their on the move piece-to-camera work and though just a bit long, its quite entertaining.