Written by: Leslye Headland
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Adam Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, Natasha Lyonne, Adam Brody
Rating: [3/5]
As anyone battling with addiction would tell you, the first step towards recovery lies in admitting a problem exists. With the protagonists we get saddled with Sleeping with Other People, we see them find their way towards overcoming their addiction by finding solace in each other, which makes for a solid romantic comedy helped along by an always-sharp Leslye Headland at the helm.
Both unable to hold down a relationship, because of their sex addiction making them cheat on their partners, Lainey (Alison Brie) and Jake (Jason Sudeikis) begin a non-sexual friendship with each other. As they begin to spend time together without sexual activity, they begin to build a connection they’ve never thought they could with another person.
Romantic comedies certainly have a formula they utilize and with great success allow for a sense of comfort to exist with those wanting something light to watch. Those adhering to the formula do not necessarily break any new ground but rely on the chemistry between the actors to elevate it beyond all of the others. On the other hand, you could also have a talent like Leslye Headland writing and directing the feature, which will make something much more entertaining but also with quite the edge.
Following their latest breakups, a ceasefire in their sexual lives served as the best course of action for them, which leads this to be quite the pairing. Headland knows how to cut through the nonsense of a story and portray honesty in her characters that makes them utterly refreshing. Taking something like Bachelorette as an example well and truly exemplifies how she has no fear in showing the ugly side of a person and we still find a way to care for them in the end. While the characters at the center of this story don’t fall into the unlikeable category, they definitely contain some thorns you have to get around in order to get to the rose within each of them. Most importantly, they have a humor to them separating them from everyone else around them thus making them a perfect pair.
Headland’s typical comedy style steals the show for the first two acts of the film, but once we get to the third, the film does struggle in closing the deal. Almost forced to conclude this story like any romantic comedy, this feature struggles in crafting a finale matching the tone of the better part of the film. A curious decision to make, which certainly does not relegate the film to anything below positive but still raises an eyebrow at the approach taken. It makes for the feature to end on a bit of a whimper of a soft cloud instead of the bed of knives the first two acts this feature sought to deliver.
One thing certainly done well in this feature was assembling quite the cast. Jason Sudeikis has never carried more charisma with a character but Alison Brie proved the star of the feature. I’m always supportive when she receives the opportunity to star in a movie and she certainly did not squander the opportunity to do so bringing her endless charm to the role in Lainey. They receive support from the likes of Adam Scott, Jason Mantzoukas, Natasha Lyonne, Adam Brody, and Amanda Peet all rounding out a room of funny people gathering together to make something entertaining and they certainly did not disappoint. Tagging them along with Headland certainly made for a combination that would have struggled in making something subpar and that certainly did not happen here.
Filled with the sharpness you would expect from a Leslye Headland film until the final third and a stellar cast, Sleeping with Other People takes a look at an addiction that does not receive as much attention but certainly can be just as destructive to the relationships you have with others as the more perceived addictions. As with any successful romantic comedy, you have two leads who give you a reason to care for their story and ultimately root for them to come together by the end. It all culminates in a solid film if uneven that certainly brings plenty of enjoyment for anyone looking for some entertainment with a bit of a sting.
Films with Josh 
