FILM REVIEWS: Celeste & Jesse Forever (15)
The eponymous married couple in Lee Toland Krieger’s gently paced comedy have been separated for six months but still live in each other’s pockets.
This physical closeness causes friction with friends and family. They can’t understand why two people who are heading for divorce are unwilling to move on.
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Hide AdThus husband and wife must either stoke the embers of romance, re-igniting the desire that first drew them together, or admit defeat.
Celeste & Jesse Forever is set long after most romantic comedies end, at the point where the lead protagonists have taken off their rose-tinted glasses and seen each other’s foibles and insecurities close up.
A sweet montage of Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) madly in love opens the film, culminating with her walking away at a party.
She runs a successful business with her gay friend Scott (Elijah Wood) analysing trends and advising clients how to woo print and online media.
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Hide AdCeleste has her finger on the pulse of current fashions but is ill-equipped to see what has been staring her in the face for months: that her relationship with Jesse has reached a point of no return.
He lives in a studio at the rear of the house, so they see each other every morning and still make each other laugh with childish private jokes.
“Do you think it’s weird that we hang out all the time?” Celeste asks Jesse.
“No,” he smiles, “you’re my best friend.”
To encourage Celeste and Jesse to find happiness elsewhere, friends suggest they dip their toes back in the dating pool.