I Do... Until I Don't (2017)

Powerful

Absolutely Fantastic

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Painful to watch a bunch of unlikeable people. Couldn't get through 20 minutes of that crap.

For fans of Lake Bell's "In A World" (and I'm one of them) who have been waiting for her to produce another comedy at that level, "I Do...Until I Don't" will prove to be a seriously sad disappointment. Trying for a Christopher Guest (Best Of Show) type documentary satire, Bell flops on every level. The film is pointless, shapeless, aimless. Very early in this comedy about marriage, Bell loses track of the story and it wanders blandly between three couples. And despite the cast of accomplished comedic actors, which includes Mary Steenburgen, Paul Reiser, Wyatt Cenac and Ed Helms, it has perhaps 2 laughs and 2 good scenes. Finally Bell, who takes the lead role, has completely wrung dry her stammer-and-stumble acting schtick. I don't think she finishes a complete sentence in the entire movie. I still have hopes for a good Lake Bell comedy. It's just that this one ain't it.

"I Do... Until I Don't" (2017 release; 103 min.) brings the story of a British woman doing a documentary about the state of marriage. As the movie opens, Vivian, the British woman, is giving a presentation to a group of people in Vero Beach, FL. Vivian wonders if there is support to making marriage a 7 year deal with a renewal option. Meanwhile we get to know several married couples: there is Alice and Noah, who sell blinds for interior decorating, are low on money and trying to conceive. Vivian's sister Fanny and her husband are "free thinkers" (read: hippies) who supposedly have an open marriage. And then there is Cybil and Harvey, an older couple whose marriage has seen better times. At this point we are 10 min. into the movie but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.Couple of comments: this is the second feature length movie (after the excellent "In a World" a few years ago) that is written, produced and directed by Lake Bell (in addition to starring in the lead role, here as Alice). This basic premise is potentially interesting but alas, the movie gets stuck in certain patterns that are utterly predictable and not even interesting. It's a darn shame, as certainly the performers try their best: Ed Helms plays Bell's husband, but the show is for me almost stolen by the delightful Mary Steenburgen (as Cybil), an all too rare sighting of this great actress. Paul Reiser portrays her husband. This movie is billed as a comedy, and while there certainly are some moments that I chuckled, there isn't anything remotely crazy funny in the movie. In fact, the movie is more rom-com than just comedy. In the end, this movie feels like a missed opportunity: so much talent on the screen! I absolutely love Lake Bell, and I really wanted to like this, but in the end I just couldn't."I Do... Until I Don't" is now in its second week at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The Saturday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended okay but not great (7 people, including myself). Given the so-so critical buzz and correlating word-of-mouth, I can't see this playing in theaters very long. This movie really is for Lake Bell fans, and even there, better see this with lowered expectations.

We fell in love with Lake Bell in In a World and it's great to see her again. I Do has a great premise, characters, and droll humor. It has Bell's signature style of parody combined with deep affection for ordinary people. I Do is not at all corny, but it believes in relationships -- that's a really nice escape from all the 'beautiful people' and cynicism that pervades most Hollywood writing.