Circumstantially in Love

Jennifer Aniston, unlike her other "Friends" co-stars, has successfully made the jump from TV to the big screen. But unfortunately, in doing so, she has become too confined to a very specific character, making it nearly impossible for her to star in films other than romantic comedies. "Inconveniently in Love" is no exception. But even though not only Aniston, but really the entire production, stays in safe territory throughout without offering any real surprises, this charming comedy works surprisingly well on balance.

Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) and Wally (Jason Bateman) are best friends. But Kassie can't really imagine a relationship with the overly neurotic Wally - even though her biological clock is ticking dangerously loud. But since the single woman is desperate to have a child, she decides to use a sperm donor. But even here, Wally is out of the question. He simply doesn't stand a chance against the handsome Roland (Patrick Wilson). When Kassie's best friend Debbie (Juliette Lewis) throws a "fertilization party", Wally gives free rein to his frustration and gets unrestrained drunk - with consequences, as it turns out a few years later. For when Kassie returns to New York with her young son Sebastian (Thomas Robinson) after a seven-year absence, the little rascal turns out to be conspicuously neurotic...

The story of "Indeed to Fall in Love" is extremely poor in surprises and quite a few gags also come to nothing. That the film nevertheless works is primarily due to the very good cast. This does not only mean the experienced Jennifer Aniston, but especially Jason Bateman. The former teen star ("Teen Wolf 2") and otherwise subscribed to supporting roles Bateman embodies the neurotic Wally, the actual main character of the film, in such an amusing and charming way that the small weaknesses of the production are quickly forgotten.

The biggest surprise, however, is the little Thomas Robinson. Kids in US comedies are often either too precocious, or too faux-cute, that they quickly get on your nerves. But Robinson is just wonderfully cute as a miniature Monk plagued by neuroses and anxieties. Sebastian's rapprochement with Wally is staged in such an enchantingly understated way that as an audience member you just can't help but fall in love with this part of the story.

In the U.S., "Indeed of Love" has garnered scathing reviews and has also been only mildly convincing at the box office. It's not really that understandable. Sure, many of the gags are stale and the story can be seen through from beginning to end. But the characters are charming, a few nice laughs (such as the fitness program of Wally's boss, played wonderfully laconic by Jeff Goldblum) has to offer the story all the time and also in terms of romance, the production can score points. So if you don't necessarily care much about originality but are just looking for nice entertainment that lightens up your mind, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman should definitely show you how to fall in love "Effortlessly". Worth Seeing

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp