Swinging with the Finkels (2010)

Swinging with the Finkels (2010) (DVD) (*)

~~$28.99~~ $22.97

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
German ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
82 min + 49 min extras

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Making Of
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 2010 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Jonathan Newman

Written By:
Jonathan Newman

Actors:
Mandy Moore ..... Ellie Finkel
Martin Freeman ..... Alvin Finkel
Melissa George ..... Janet
Jerry Stiller ..... Peter
Jonathan Silverman ..... Pedicurist
Elizabeth Tan ..... Dustbin Man
Graham Bohea ..... Toe Jam Woman
Carolyn Tomkinson ..... Andrew
Edward Akrout ..... Fashionista
Delia Antal ..... Clementine
Daisy Beaumont ..... Jim
Tim Beckmann ..... Pee Man
Michael Burgess ..... Henry
Paul Chowdhry ..... Italian Waiter
Alec Christie

Synopsis:

Swinging with the Finkels revolves around two London couples whose sex lives have plateaued. Alvin and Ellie (Mandy Moore), whose relationship is at the nine-year mark, blame their rough patch on fatigue and complacency. Their best friends, Peter (Jonathan Silverman) and Janet (Melissa George), are dealing with the same issues, but with two children, the unraveling of their romance seems more legitimate. The film doesn't initially waste much time developing these relationships, preferring to set up their affairs with flatlining dinner jokes about male urges and sexual proclivities. Yet very few of these jokes are delivered with a sense of inflection or timing (except for an overzealous sight gag, which I'll get to). They just roll out to the audience, sputtering and feeble.

How do you stay married to the same person and not get bored? It's an age-old question, asked by the titular Alvin Finkel (Martin Freeman) in Jonathan Newman's Swinging with the Finkels. The question itself is rhetorical and not easily answered in the context of a light romp, especially because of the tendency to slide into formulaic arcs and wishful endings. That's one of the great downfalls of popular cinema. When you try to appeal to a wide audience, there's always a temptation to make the relationships work out in the end, to extol the triumphant power of love. In doing so, what's compromised is what matters most: the minutiae. In this case, that would be the subtleties of heartbreak and doubt that define the trials of an unfulfilled marriage.

A suburban couple decide to shake up their marriage by 'swinging' with another couple

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 12 September, 2011.

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