Swinging with the Finkels is a great example of the importance of finding the right comic tone.
To compare, last week, Griff the Invisible hit theaters, a comedy that couldn't find the right tone for its material to save its life, making it an awkward and tedious experience. Here's a movie on the other side of the spectrum, one that isn't great by any stretch of the word, but manages to find a pitch just right for it's material. As a result, Swinging with the Finkels is surprisingly palatable.
Certainly, the film has its share of awkward moments, and some of the individual scenes reek of discomfort. One particular scene has Ellie (Mandy Moore) masturbating with a cucumber as her husband (Martin Freeman) and her grandparents unknowingly wander into the bedroom. Shocked, Ellie gasps, and for some reason, the cucumber shoots out of her vagina and smacks her grandfather's crotch.
Yes, that's an awkward scene, far too strange and uncomfortable to be funny. It doesn't work in the least. Yet, it finds itself within a movie that is playful, light hearted, and well acted. So, while not particularly funny, the awkwardness of that scene is quickly forgiven, and our focus is diverted to the character's next charming comic experience.
British couple Alvin and Ellie is going through an itch in their relationship. While they've enjoyed nearly a decade of marital bliss, the recent past has become stagnant. He's works as an architect; she works in the fashion industry...both are successful in their individual careers. But they seem to be failing to keep things fresh in their life together, specifically in the bedroom.
They try a few different ideas after asking around to their friends. Alvin's buddy suggests increasing his porn time, other people tell him to try role playing, and then Ellie decides to try masturbating with vegetables, as mentioned above. But none of those ideas re-ignite the spark.
Ellie's assistant (Edward Akrout) mentions swinging...swapping spouses with another couple. She contemplates the idea, and after watching her best friend break up with her husband after he has an afraid, she thinks it is a better option than something like that. After presenting the idea to Alvin, although unsure of the concept, he agrees to try it out. They have nine years of marriage they don't want to go to waste, after all.
Swinging with the Finkels is a bit crude for its own good. Some of the humor is far too abrasive for the tone that writer/director Jonathan Newman chooses for the film. Cucumbers and breast milk jokes aside, Newman's tone is level and consistent, making the racy humor tolerable, though not particularly funny.
Also saving the movie is a cast of gleefully charismatic characters, lead by the delightful pairing of Mandy Moore and Martin Freeman. They do well in creating a relationship that is plagued with dullness, bringing forth the couple's antsy feelings that everyone can relate to. Through all the rude and crude humor, though, the actors also capture a level of sincerity, giving the movie a human element.
Moore and Freeman do what they can to make those awkward scenes seem, well, less awkward, and do so decently. Their glow and chemistry give the movie life...even when some of the individual sequences need life support. While not a masterpiece, Swinging with the Finkels is worth consideration, even if that consideration is better suited for second-run theater prices.
To compare, last week, Griff the Invisible hit theaters, a comedy that couldn't find the right tone for its material to save its life, making it an awkward and tedious experience. Here's a movie on the other side of the spectrum, one that isn't great by any stretch of the word, but manages to find a pitch just right for it's material. As a result, Swinging with the Finkels is surprisingly palatable.
Certainly, the film has its share of awkward moments, and some of the individual scenes reek of discomfort. One particular scene has Ellie (Mandy Moore) masturbating with a cucumber as her husband (Martin Freeman) and her grandparents unknowingly wander into the bedroom. Shocked, Ellie gasps, and for some reason, the cucumber shoots out of her vagina and smacks her grandfather's crotch.
Yes, that's an awkward scene, far too strange and uncomfortable to be funny. It doesn't work in the least. Yet, it finds itself within a movie that is playful, light hearted, and well acted. So, while not particularly funny, the awkwardness of that scene is quickly forgiven, and our focus is diverted to the character's next charming comic experience.
British couple Alvin and Ellie is going through an itch in their relationship. While they've enjoyed nearly a decade of marital bliss, the recent past has become stagnant. He's works as an architect; she works in the fashion industry...both are successful in their individual careers. But they seem to be failing to keep things fresh in their life together, specifically in the bedroom.
They try a few different ideas after asking around to their friends. Alvin's buddy suggests increasing his porn time, other people tell him to try role playing, and then Ellie decides to try masturbating with vegetables, as mentioned above. But none of those ideas re-ignite the spark.
Ellie's assistant (Edward Akrout) mentions swinging...swapping spouses with another couple. She contemplates the idea, and after watching her best friend break up with her husband after he has an afraid, she thinks it is a better option than something like that. After presenting the idea to Alvin, although unsure of the concept, he agrees to try it out. They have nine years of marriage they don't want to go to waste, after all.
Swinging with the Finkels is a bit crude for its own good. Some of the humor is far too abrasive for the tone that writer/director Jonathan Newman chooses for the film. Cucumbers and breast milk jokes aside, Newman's tone is level and consistent, making the racy humor tolerable, though not particularly funny.
Also saving the movie is a cast of gleefully charismatic characters, lead by the delightful pairing of Mandy Moore and Martin Freeman. They do well in creating a relationship that is plagued with dullness, bringing forth the couple's antsy feelings that everyone can relate to. Through all the rude and crude humor, though, the actors also capture a level of sincerity, giving the movie a human element.
Moore and Freeman do what they can to make those awkward scenes seem, well, less awkward, and do so decently. Their glow and chemistry give the movie life...even when some of the individual sequences need life support. While not a masterpiece, Swinging with the Finkels is worth consideration, even if that consideration is better suited for second-run theater prices.
