Like philosophies, relationships are most meaningfully tested at the extremes. When newly cohabiting Jon and Maggie catch truly miserable cases of the flu, their love is tested so thoroughly it nearly kills them.
The beginning is so very realistic that it feels slow. You keep hoping that the potential for either comedy or drama will be realized. And about half-way in, it is. Détente ends and the cold war begins; at this point the film becomes worth watching. It's not a spoiler to say that the war heats up later.
Cold War is well acted, and you develop an empathy with both Jon and Maggie. The film has quite a few funny moments, both ha-ha funny and ironic. The down-side: the overall feel of the film is one of strict realism, but some of the events are too far-fetched, and the two secondary characters are just a little too odd. These incongruities of style repeatedly disrupted my immersion in the story, reminding me that I was watching from outside.
I liked it enough that it wasn't a complete waste of time, but there are plenty of better films you can watch.
