A Forgettable Rom-Com —Review Of Your Place or Mine (2023)

It's Valentine's Day, so I check my streaming site and see some romance films on display but the one that catches my attention is the poster displaying Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher lying side by side. I'm intrigued! It seems Hollywood is releasing movies of these iconic actors whom we loved when they were younger.

Having recently watched Ticket To Paradise featuring Clooney and Roberts, Shotgun Wedding featuring Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Lopez, I'm not surprised by the release of Your Place Or Mine (2023) featuring Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon. I can say these two favourite actors of many film lovers have aged really well and it's good to see them together in a romantic comedy.

Your Place Or Mine is an American rom-com that focuses on friendship turned into love between Debbie (played by Reese Witherspoon) and Peter (played by Ashton Kutcher).

They slept together once in 2003 but became close, platonic friends who confide in each other without any jealousy or secrets. Peter is a successful businessman who has six-month relationships with younger women, while Debbie is a struggling single mother with a 13-year-old shy and asthmatic son named Jack.

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For Debbie to attend a week-long accounting course in New York and since there is no one to look after Jack, the couple agrees to trade apartments so Peter can look after Jack. Then they discover some significant things they have been hiding from each other. Can their friendship survive after the discoveries?

Review

"Your Place or Mine" is an extremely mild movie. It is so mild that it is completely unremarkable, which is unexpected because of the presence of stars Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon. How can a director bring these talented actors into such a plain and forgettable film?

No doubt, rom-coms are made to cheer up viewers and make us believe in love and life. This film does this, it's actually sweet and watchable but the plot lacks direction. This film is devoid of tension, acerbic humour, and romantic friction. There's nothing spectacular about it as it seems content with being pleasant.

The writer-director, Aline Brosh McKenna, the brain behind impressive rom-coms like 27 Dresses, The Devil Wears Prada is also the one behind this film. And I can say it's a little disappointing to know this. The viewing time is almost two hours but there are many scenes in it that should not be.

The cast is great and their performances are excellent but they cannot save this film from a negative reception. The main couple lacks that fascinating chemistry that would captivate their audience. Witherspoon and Kutcher portray Debbie and Peter, who had a one-time hookup twenty years ago and have been best friends ever since.

Despite frequently mentioning their strong bond, their on-screen interactions fail to convey the depth and comfort that usually accompany such friendships. As a result, their connection lacks authenticity. They lack a believable spark. The final scene where they spill out their secrets and confront their feelings at the airport before people are cringy.

Furthermore, I find some of the supporting cast irrelevant. I enjoyed the snarky attitude of Peter's ex who quickly becomes Debbie's sidekick in New York but her character has no life outside of showing up and being supportive of a woman she just met. This is just unrealistic. Also, Debbie’s gardener called Zen (seriously?) is kind of a wonder to me. This character is totally unnecessary in the film and feels like an afterthought. Their presence does not affect the plot in any way.

One part that I commend is the cinematography, visual effects and editing. It's neat and cool, especially where we watch the two actors acting side by side though they are in different places.

Overall, it's not a bad romance movie. It's a pleasant one-time watch but may prove disappointing for viewers who have seen Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutchner in action.

Happy Valentine's Day! 💕

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^{Other images are screenshots from the movie}