Permission

This film tells the story of a couple who decides to open up their relationship on the suggestion of their mutual friend.

"Permission" is a predictable romantic comedy, I could just tell how the film will end after watching the first scene. The process of getting to the end scene is quite pleasant, with a lot of eye candy and nice portrayal of how the new arrangement may or may not be working.

Long term, exclusive couple test their relationship by sleeping around! What could go wrong? Plenty of course, but "Permission" is more than a quirky, guilty pleasure premise. Heck it's not even a comedy.

As our adorable love birds take their first baby steps outside of their cage, there is, dread, apprehension, fear, but mostly there is excitement. How Anna and Will deal with their suddenly evolving world is decent fodder for a serious movie, yet it is another couple that steals the show. Anna's baby craving brother and his reluctant boyfriend offer up a better plot line. Sometimes juicy don't cut it.

This really is a tale of two couples, and unravelling the daily intimacy and neurosis of both relationships, with some terrific performances, is where "Permission" works best. It's a messy film with a whole lot goin' on, but manages to entertain while posing some interesting questions.

The acting was good however the premise is worn out making you lose interest in the characters because they are pathetic unless, of course, you take enjoyment in watching, otherwise pretty decent people, destroy each other making stupid decisions. The Freebie, Wanderlust, White Lotus, Hall Pass, Sleeping with Other People, 8 minutes in Heaven, Fling, Couples Retreat, and so on, all adverts for experimenting with polygamy or encouraging the seeming benefits taking plenty of sex test drives (especially ridiculously spontaneous with some complete stranger in a back room or just to see what someone else's sex skills are for practice) before settling down to marriage.

Like the Movie 'Fair Play" it is also a testament to the pitfalls of having a relationship where couples don't actually talk to each other to explain their concerns, insecurities, and mostly how to help each other along emotionally. Couples especially need to be able to see the things they are doing wrong or the ill feelings and jealousy they are promulgating by their actions especially when serious issues that affect life and relationships occur. Or, worse yet, taking cues and advice from other couples (in this case, the gay couple) who, themselves, in their own pathetic lives, don't even have their own act together.

Anyway, the statistics are with the premise of the film. Casual sex is fine if you don't really care about the others you are having sex with, don't expect your own marriage (or any serious relationship) to last, or you are somehow, remarkably, immune to jealousy. As if going home and talking about their latest experience, including the physical attributes and skills of the most recent partner was going to actually be accepted by their own significant other and somehow leading to relationship improvement. Oh, and that high school sweetheart marriages traditionally have the highest rate of failure.

If you think the grass is greener on the other side instead of caring for, and fertilizing, your own lawn, then get out of the relationship instead of destroying each other.

This movie tries to ask tough questions but avoids having an actual discussion. The characters are just written too superficial. Rebecca hall and dan stevens are both great but we don't actually learn about them much and what actually leads to the end. Just a missed opportunity. Watch only if you are a huge fan of hall like me. Otherwise look elsewhere.

This is the reason I always get anxious during opening credits from small time productions or indie size studios.

The writer clearly couldn't decide on what creative choices to make early on, was it going to be another take on an open relationship or a gay drama.

Way too ambitious, didn't work. Cliche beats and fairly mundane dialogue.

There was no arc towards making their important relationship decision, it just happened out of nowhere.

The drama was telegraphed all the way after we're introduced to the cliche premise.

The moral tale doesn't have any redeeming qualities other than an open ended decision by the female co protagonist to free herself to continue the self discovery.

The baby scenes in the park magically appear like set pieces. Did he have to stalk the area until the Father and son showed up? This just added to the lack of believability. Are we really meant to believe a girl that has been with one man soon after is shagging strangers within 2mins of meeting them in quick succession?

If this was a college project I'd say it was a good start, but this film made it to subscription TV