Swinging with the Finkels

The most cliché gathered Movie I have ever seen. An Indian, with the oh so funny (?) Indian/English accent, the gay Spanish man with a lisp, the french gay guy that wishes he was a woman, the traditional Asian woman at the Nail salon,who of course, gets into your conversation and is, of course, very "sexually outspoken".

Men who goes to the same Nail salon and sits there with facial masks and "treats themselves" and is talking to the same Asian woman.

I mean come on.

Think of all the bad lines, scenes that are supposed to be funny, that you just roll your Eyes at, all the American Pie Movies, take them and put them in a blender. Out comes this Movie.

Enjoy.

I love movies that deal with sex and marriage because these are topics that, well, are taboo on our society. The movie premise starts great, a marriage with a 'block' on their passion search for alternatives and as I say, it starts great, very liberal in the way it shows the couple trying to search for something different.

Then, all of a sudden, the movie just chickens out, sex and passion stops being the main topic of the movie and it slowly but surely becomes in another super clichéd romantic comedy about a couple fighting and getting back together.

Seriously, I love movies that respect their premise and go for it, this movie is not. Swinging (swingers) is the main title of the movie, but, believe me, swinging is the LEAST you will see on this one.

I don't have a problem with romantic comedies, don't get me wrong, but when the main premise goes to the trash can in the middle of it I get mad.

This movie is very deceptive, it tries to be original and bold in their initial statements but if rapidly falls in the "normal" category.

A real letdown, if you really want to see a fun comedy that don't dare to chicken out like this one, please, go see "A good old fashioned orgy" and do not waste time on this one.

I guess that sums it up good. Hopefully you don't have bad feelings towards the actors involved (especially Mandy Moore), because you wouldn't be able to like or enjoy the movie otherwise. But Martin Freeman and Moore do have a special chemistry and it works for the purpose of the movie. It's not that you will be cheering at the screen (I'm assuming here), but you will like them.

If that is not enough, maybe the decent comedy in place will please you. The theme is an adult one, which although there is not that much going on (explicit wise), the movie is rated R in America. In Germany and other European countries this probably looks different, because it is tame by their standards. A heads up to what you may expect.

Written and directed by Jonathan Newman. British Martin Freeman and american Mandy Moore are the Finkels. Things are getting boring in the bedroom, and they might be ready to try swinging with others. Co-stars Jonathan Silverman (Bernie's) .. and Jerry Stiller (Serenity now !!!) this one has a LOT of talk about marriage, open relationships, role play, keeping things new and fresh in the bedroom. So they find a couple that they both agree on, which is awkward, but okay. This is listed as a comedy, but the only comedy i found was the dirty, dirty names of the drinks they offered to the other couple. That was clever! It's SO predictable... it probably ends just like you think it will. Whatever. The extra scenes during the credits were the best part of this one. They should have left those scenes in the film!

This movie has some really funny moments, considerable charm, and a nice sensibility, all too rare in most modern British films.

If you are married (or have ever been in a relationship of more than five minutes), you will be able to identify with the Finkels' problems and be amused by the varied and intriguing solutions they come up with to add some spice to their ailing sex life. There is also a nice contrast with the other main couple and we see how both couples deal with the same problem in rather different ways.

The unusual locations in London were used to great effect and the art direction was excellent.

PS: After watching this film cucumbers will always make you smile.