It takes more than whimsy and awkwardness to make a good comedy

Richard Curtis deserves a lot of credit for I Give It a Year. Not because he wrote it, but because it shows just how difficult it actually is to write a charming British romantic comedy and how good he actually is at it. If nothing else, this film highlights the intricacies and subtleties required to craft a truly endearing rom-com. Here, unfortunately, Dan Mazer’s debut feature falls short in almost every conceivable way, demonstrating that whimsy and awkwardness alone do not a good comedy make.

From the opening scenes, the film sets a tone of forced quirkiness, striving too hard to capture that whimsical charm characteristic of British rom-coms. It quickly becomes apparent that the narrative leans heavily on tired, cringe-inducing Gervais-esque awkwardness, aiming for humor but landing squarely in discomfort. The script attempts to blend farcical situations with romantic entanglements but does so with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, resulting in a mishmash that neither entertains nor endears.

One of the film’s major pitfalls is the believability of its characters’ relationships. It’s hard to accept that a group of people who seem to barely tolerate each other would remain such close friends. This central flaw undermines the entire premise, making it difficult to invest in the characters or their outcomes. The farcical elements are stretched to breaking point by increasingly implausible scenarios where the simple act of honest communication could resolve much of the contrived conflict. The suspension of disbelief becomes too great a burden for the viewer to bear.

Despite the array of talented actors, there’s a surprising lack of chemistry. Rafe Spall and Rose Byrne, as the central couple, fail to spark any real connection, making their journey from wedded bliss to potential breakup feel more like a contractual obligation than an emotional rollercoaster. Anna Faris, always charming, tries valiantly to inject some heart into her role, but even she cannot rise above the material’s limitations. Her character, while endearing, feels oddly out of place, and one can’t help but notice the slightly frozen look on her face, possibly the result of some ill-advised Botox.

Dan Mazer’s direction betrays his television roots. The film’s pacing feels episodic, and the comedic timing lacks the precision required for the big screen. The narrative flow is choppy, with scenes that seem to exist more as isolated sketches than parts of a cohesive whole. This disjointedness is compounded by the over-reliance on awkward silences and uncomfortable situations, which quickly grow tiresome and fail to elicit the intended laughs.

The trailer promised an acerbically witty experience, and the inclusion of Stephen Merchant seemed to guarantee at least a few genuine laughs. However, the film disappoints on almost every level. Merchant’s presence, while welcome, is not enough to save the sinking ship. His scenes, though funny in isolation, do little to enhance the overall narrative or elevate the film from its mediocre execution.

I Give It a Year aspires to be a fresh take on the romantic comedy genre but ends up as a cautionary tale of what happens when style overtakes substance and forced humor replaces genuine wit. Never mind a year; you might regret giving it the 97 minutes of its running time.

In the end, despite the talent involved and the occasional glimmer of potential, I Give It a Year fails to deliver. It stands as a stark reminder that creating a truly great romantic comedy is no easy feat. I give it a 5.