So much rom-com crud can be found floating on certain streaming platforms (*cough Netflix*), especially around V-day. But on Amazon Prime, premiering Friday, “I Want You Back” reminds us of the value of rom-coms with actual com, not to mention performers on the order of Charlie Day and Jenny Slate.
In truth, there are no other performers like them, which is why I enjoy their work so much. They share some interesting traits: easy, eccentric assurance in both broad comedy and gently seriocomic tones; those naturally expressive, sandpapery voices; unpredictable timing with both ready-made punchlines and throwaway, off-the-cuff line readings en route to the zinger. Not to sound like the characters they play here, but: I want them back.
In an Atlanta office building stairwell, orthodontist receptionist Emma (Slate) and retirement-home executive Peter (Day) meet across separate puddles of tears. They’ve both recently been dumped.
It’s a start. They become pals, drinking buddies (the drinking rarely stops in this movie, as is the case with 97% of all 21st century rom-coms). Over lunches, they keep tabs via social media on just how swiftly Emma’s ex, a pleasantly humorless personal trainer (Scott Eastwood), and Peter’s, a frustrated actor-turned-middle-school teacher (Gina Rodriguez), have moved on to greener pastures.
The greener pastures are played by Clark Backo, as the Eastwood character’s new love, a pie-shop owner, and Manny Jacinto, who takes the role of the tightly wound middle-school theater director at the school where Peter’s ex works. This fervent artiste is in the throes of rehearsing a stark and bloody version of “Little Shop of Horrors,” not quite suitable for his largely preteen cast. As a first step toward breaking up his new life, Emma infiltrates rehearsals, posing as a production volunteer. Peter, meanwhile, starts training at the gym where the Eastwood character works, to befriend and gently undermine the mark.
The contrivances click and sometimes groan into place, but screenwriters Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger have the good sense not to demonize the exes, or the exes’ new partners. There is, however, an unfortunate hiccup near the end, when the Rodriguez and Backo characters revert to scolds of narrative convenience.
As sure as Harry met Sally, Emma and Peter are meant for each other, and this we know before the opening credits. “I Want You Back” gets off to a strong and flavorsome start, letting Day and Slate establish a comfortable rhythm. Then the storyline becomes a matter of crosscutting between Emma and Peter as they embark on separate campaigns to undo their exes’ new lives, and bring ‘em back around. The midsection sags, and the nudge toward raunch (tame by most R-rated standards) brings a different and somewhat uncertain kind of sex comedy into play.
Director Jason Orley (”Big Time Adolescence”) handles it all well enough. It’s Day and Slate who make the very best of it.
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‘I WANT YOU BACK’
3 stars (out of 4)
MPAA rating: R (for language, sexual material, some drug use and partial nudity)
Running time: 1:51
Where to watch: Premieres Friday on Amazon Prime Video
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