Save the Date is a
2012 romantic comedy-drama directed by Michael Mohan and written by Mohan,
Jeffrey Brown, and Egan Reich. The film stars Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Martin
Starr, Geoffrey Arend, and Mark Webber. The film focuses on two sisters
(Caplan, Brie) who are in relationships with two guys in a rock band (Starr,
Arend), and their romantic frustrations and anxieties.
The movie opens with a really sweet title sequence of
cartoons of the main characters in their typical relationships, “drawn” by the
film’s lead character, Sarah, an artist. They illustrate the characters’
personalities in a fun and relatable way, and match the hipster L.A. vibe of
the film.
Sarah (Caplan) is dating Kevin (Arend), but has trouble
being in a serious and committed relationship. She moved in with him, but is
hesitant about settling down with him, while he wants to marry her quickly.
Against his friends’ advice, he proposes to her at his band’s show in front of
the audience, and she dumps him, gets her own place, and begins dating Jonathan
(Webber), a customer at the bookstore she manages.
Caplan delivers a very complex and interesting performance
as a relatable yet unlikable person. While her anxieties are understandable,
she is often selfish and inconsiderate, pushing away other people when she
feels too emotionally vulnerable or too open beyond her snarky guard.
Beth (Brie) is more traditionally romantic, and is planning
her wedding to her boyfriend Andrew (Starr), an affable and laid-back guy. She
is dealing with anxiety over the fact that her boyfriend doesn’t care about the
wedding or planning details, and is just leaving it to her to manage. She wants
an ideal relationship like her parents, and is easily miffed whenever something
doesn’t go according to plan.
Brie plays Beth with kindness and sincerity, and Beth has
the flaw of trying to fix her sister’s life while trying to keep a happy front
for her upcoming nuptials.
Starr is likeable and sympathetic as Andrew, the solid voice
of reason amongst the love pathos. He is just a good guy who wants to see
happiness amongst his friends, and dreads that Sarah will break Jonathan’s
heart, just as she did to Kevin.
Arend brings a heartbroken quality to the dumped Kevin, who
mourns the loss of his relationship throughout the film. He isn’t presented as
being pathetic, more just emotionally wrought and unable to move on. Kevin isn’t
a bad person, but he isn’t too bright, and wasn’t able to tell that his
girlfriend wasn’t into marriage or heavy commitment.
Webber plays Jonathan well as a nice guy, but his
personality as a self-aware “dorky” hipster is annoying. Jonathan seems too
self-aware and tries too hard to be funny. However, he is willing to be
emotionally open and grow past old hurts, whereas Sarah distances herself when
things get too close, repeating the errors of her relationship with Kevin.
Jonathan is good for her, but she doesn’t seem deserving of him.
The film is enjoyable, and is fairly light for its plot.
Melonie Diaz is really underused, a talented actress stuck to playing Sarah’s
best friend in a few scenes. Diaz showed a lot of charm and talent in Raising
Victor Vargas, The Itty Bitty Titty Committee, and Be Kind Rewind, and it is a waste to see her in a throwaway
role. Also, the film throws in a couple of subplots in the last third that
seemed unnecessary and didn’t add anything special or interesting to the film.
It can be a little too hipster for its own good sometimes (the L.A. indie rock
scene, twee music, Sarah’s drawings), but the lead performances by Caplan and
Brie make the film really strong and enjoyable to watch, as two actresses who
deserve to be in well-written and interesting roles in their careers. I would
recommend this film as a casual watch for those interested in indie romantic
comedy-dramas.
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