Josh, a struggling novelist, marries ambitious, highly strung careerist Nat after a whirlwind romance. The excited new couple seems deliriously in love despite their conflicting traits; Josh is a dreamer, Nat is a doer, Josh is cavalier and shambling, Nat is poised and polished, but the sparks between them undoubtedly fly. So far so ‘happily ever after’. Except, despite the dream coming true, no one - neither family, friends nor even the minister marrying them - believes they can last, and the giddy couple exchange vows to the whispered refrain from the congregation of... "I give It a year"...

I Give it a Year takes the usual Brit Rom-Com and flips it on its head. Instead of the audience willing the couple to get together, they want them to break apart, as they realise that both will have a much better life with other people.

As the honeymoon fades and they return to real life, they negotiate the pleasures - and more often pitfalls - of their first few months of marriage, and the question is never far away - have they made the right choice? A question soon personified in the form of Josh’s kooky ex girlfriend Chloe, and Nat’s handsome new American client Guy who maybe offer very attractive alternatives. With their first anniversary just around the corner, neither wants to be the first to give up, but will they make it? For Nat (Rose Byrne) would be far happier with Guy (Simon Baker), whilst Josh (Rafe Spall) is better suited to his ex girlfriend Chloe (Anna Faris).

The film is helped along greatly by some impressive supporting actors. Minnie Driver and Jason Flemyng play friends of the bride and groom who, to outsiders, seem the most mismatched and unhappy couple; Stephen Merchant plays Guy's best friend who filters nothing that comes out of his mouth. In fact Merchant is easily this movie's stand out character. Olivia Colman appears as a marriage guidance councillor; Nigel Planer also makes a brief appearance as Josh's dad; while Jane Asher pops up as Nat's mother.

Extras include an audio commentary; Deleted Scenes (14 min, 20 sec. Highlights include an aid worker questioning whether she'll be out of a job if they find a cure for Aids); Bloopers (6 min, 55 sec); Out-takes from Scene 59 'The Doves' (2 min, 54 sec worth of footage of Byrne scared out of her mind as she's actually scared of birds); I Give it a Year Featurette (2 min, 55 sec); and Meet the Characters Featurette (3 min, 19 sec).

Highlights in the audio commentary include the director talking about Byrne's genuine fear of birds, something she kept from the production until the day of shooting; The fact that the night scenes in London's Regent Street were shot during the Jubilee celebrations and they had to get the council to take down some of the decorations for the evening - but you can still see some if you look carefully. It's an interesting commentary and certainly worth a listen.

It's an entertaining and funny movie which is well worth checking out - it's a film that both parties in a relationship will enjoy for totally different reasons. And while not an essential purchase, there's enough here to make it worthwhile picking up for a romantic night in.

7

Darren Rea