With Valentine’s Day lurking just around the corner, the silver screen has been overcome with romantic comedies. Two Weeks Notice and Maid in Manhattan have enjoyed success with younger audiences over the last several weeks, but neither could contend with a hysterically funny newcomer. Topping the list was Just Married, which despite many negative reviews managed to be number one at the box office this past weekend. It unexpectedly knocked off the previous number one for three weeks in a row, the blockbuster The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Just Married is a funny, lowbrow comedy based on two ideas. First, opposites attract, and second, marriage can ruin even the best relationships. For the most part, the movie is a flashback detailing the story of two young lovers. Everyday, average, sports-aholic Tom, played by Ashton Kutcher (Dude, Where’s My Car?, That 70’s Show), meets and falls in love with Sarah, a well-bred, high class, rich girl played by Brittany Murphy (8 Mile, Clueless).
The couple gets hot and heavy with virtually no problems for the first year. Then they tie the knot, and the relationship goes sour. It all starts when the newlyweds are too tired to have sex on their wedding night. Hilarity ensues when they go on a disastrous honeymoon in Europe, embarking on one hysterical misadventure after another, driving them further and further apart. Just when the happy couple find themselves in true turmoil, Sarah’s ex-boyfriend, Peter (Christian Kane), shows up in Venice to really complicate things.
It was pleasantly surprising how funny the movie was, in comparison to how funny I thought it would be. Just Married had me laughing out loud on more than a few occasions. Overall, it is a great comedy to enjoy with friends or a date.