By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
“Together Together” is a quirky, yet endearing dramedy directed and written by Nikole Beckwith (“Stockholm Pennsylvania”).
In the movie, Ed Helms (TV’s “Rutherford Falls” and “The Office”) shows off his softer and serious side playing a 45-year-old single app developer named Matt who lives in San Francisco.
Life is good, but Matt still feels that something is missing from his. He sees how content his brother Jacob (Timm Sharp, TV’s “The Great North”) is with his wife Liz (Bianca Lopez, TV’s “Mr. Mayor” and “The Neighborhood”) and their two kids. Matt begins to think it might be time for him to settle down and start a family too.
Problem is, he hasn’t been lucky on the relationship front and that has him worried a lot. So, he decides to hire a gestational surrogate and goes through an interview process of candidates, but surprisingly settles on someone that you would least expect based on her past and just overall weirdness. Her name is Anna (Patti Harrison, “Raya and the Last Dragon” and TV’s “Bob’s Burgers”). She’s in her mid-20s, is a bit of a loner and works in a coffee shop, although she kind of confides in her co-worker Jules (a funny Julio Torres, TV’s “Saturday Night Live”).
Anna had a baby when she was a teenager but gave it up for adoption. Still, she tells Matt that she’s qualified to take on the role and is responsible now more than ever. Matt is surprised when Anna rattles off a few questions for him that sound like the ones he just asked her.
You know right off the bat their relationship is going to be tested in every way and yet they muddle through and become quite the odd couple. After Matt and Anna visit their therapist, Madeline (Tig Notaro, “Bob’s Burger’s), doctor (Rosalind Chao, “Mulan”) and gynecologist, Jean (a funny Sufe Bradshaw, TV’s “Hidden Canyons” and “Veep”), it suddenly dawns on Matt that this is actually happening.
He’s so beside himself that he invites his mom Adele (a funny Nora Dunn, “The Lost Husband”) and dad Marty (TV’s “F is for Family”) for a celebratory drink to share the good news. Mom is skeptical and full of snarky comments, but his dad is happy for him.
It’s not long before Matt starts to get on Anna’s nerves. He keeps showing up at her job with crazy gifts. He is always keeping an eye on what she eats. He’s floored when he runs into Anna and her old boyfriend leaving her place after a brief romp. Yet, the more it seems all these things would push them apart, they begin to have a fulfilling, plutonic relationship that they desperately need. At least for a while.
“Together Together” is a simple and light-hearted film that balances its weighty subject matter with intelligence and tasteful humor. It’s a pleasant spring delight.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"TOGETHER TOGETHER"
“Together Together” is in theaters
April 23 and on Digital May 11.
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
