Married in America

In 'Married in America', Director Michael Apted has chosen to follow 7 couples for the next 10 years stopping in for a progress report every 2 years. The plan is to release an update movie every 2 years that will catch us up on the lives of the people involved.

As the premise would suggest, this first part of the series that aired in 2002 introduces us to the various couples telling us how they met and showing us their wedding days. It is a fairly tame film as far as documentaries go, except that the variety of couples is quite remarkable. While there are a few young blushing couples, there are also a few pairs who are already enduring a rocky road due to substance abuse problems and the like.

Anyone familiar with Apted's previous long term project (28 Up, 35 Up, and 42 Up) will know that this series is going to get more interesting as the years go by. Since the filmmakers and couples have agreed to participate in the film even if the marriage breaks up, the film promises to provide a very thrilling glimpse of marriages.

So, while this particular episode was quite interesting, don't worry if you missed it as this is one movie series where the sequels are going to end up being MUCH better than the original.

Michael Apted's TV documentary is as close as he can get to his masterpiece 7 Up series. Apted, who as a 22-year-old production assistant, chose the children of 7 Up, has chosen this cast with care. The couples are interesting and varied, diverse not just in background but in their chances of marriage survival.

My wife and I watched it the year after we were married. We analyzed who would make it and who wouldn't. The only negative: No sequel, as promised, at least not on American TV.

It's not 7 Up, but it was interesting, thoughtful, and original. Let's hope we get to see the next round.