Every time I begin writing about The Five-Year Engagement, the most recent offering from the minds of Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller (re-teaming after the success of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which in my opinion is one of the best comedies out there) I can’t help but deliver cliches (e.g. “Every now and again, a movie comes along…”) and I don’t want to be THAT guy, so let me start by just putting it out there that while this is not moving into the upper echelon of comedies just yet, this is easily the best romantic comedy to come out in recent memory.

Jason Segel stars as Tom and Emily Blunt is Violet. After a year of dating, Tom proposes to Violet and the happy couple begins the process of planning the wedding. But, as Gandhi said, shit happens (ok, ok, Gandhi may not have said that but I bet he thought it). Life keeps getting in the way of their plans and they keep pushing back the wedding, much to the chagrin of both of their respective families. The film chronicles their adventures together on their long journey towards a wedding day that for most of the movie seems like it will never actually arrive. It’s not that they don’t want to get married, but more that they’re attempting to wait until they are 100% capable of doing so and as life often dictates, this is difficult to achieve.

I think what I liked most about the movie was the (prepare yourself for a FILM 101 word) verisimilitude surrounding the relationship between Tom and Violet. I felt that the actions of the characters made sense for them and that they would actually do those things, even though it might not have been the best choice for them. The reality sets in for Tom when he follows Violet to Michigan when most of what makes him happy is in San Francisco. The two must adapt to their new surroundings and the film takes an interesting turn about halfway through. Now, some will say that it loses some of its steam and that some of the humor even goes away for a little bit in the middle. It feels a bit long at some points, even. I have a theory about this though…

Whether it was intentional or not, I believe that the film works as a nice metaphor for a long-term relationship. Follow me on this… there are the more obvious examples of this (the funniest parts of the movie representing the highs of a relationship; the necessary drama and fighting that comes in any romantic comedy representing the lows) but that lull in the middle was the most interesting part to me. Those of you in long-term relationships can attest to the ups and downs like everyone else, but there is a point when things begin to plateau. There isn’t so much a rise and fall anymore as it is literally a straight line that can go on for quite a long time if allowed. This is the breaking point for both the film and relationships. You’re only going to get to where you want in either (a good movie or a solid relationship, depending on which one we are talking about) based on the individuals involved. And fortunately for viewers of this particular film, the whole is greater BECAUSE of the sum of its parts.

Psychological tangent aside, the film is just flat-out funny. We have seen Segel bring the funny before and he’s at his best here. Emily Blunt actually holds her own against the three sitcom stars (alongside “How I Met Your Mother”s Segel is “Parks and Recreation”s Christ Pratt and “Community”s Alison Brie… more on them later) and manages to get laughs that the likes of Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) and Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) could not. Pratt plays Tom’s best friend Alex and Brie, sporting an English accent that makes her appear like she’s actually imitating Blunt, is Violet’s sister Suzie. These two steal the show on more than one occasion and the film could have actually benefited from a more liberal use of both of them. But I suppose it makes their scenes that much funnier when they come around because you can’t wait to see them on screen once more.

Rounding out the near-perfect cast are a who’s who of comedic actors who shine in their brief appearances, namely Kevin Hart (with this and Think Like A Man both out right now, he’s everywhere!), Brian Posehn (good to see the big guy back on screen – some of the biggest laughs come from him), Mindy Kaling (“The Office” veteran is always good for a laugh) and Chris Parnell (who proves that self-deprecating humor is one of the easiest ways to get a laugh). Rhys Ifans (who we will see later this summer as The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man) also shows up as Violet’s professor and plays a very convincing slimy, unlikeable character. He also does Parkour. It’s funny. Trust me.

Finally, I have to ask a simple question: how many films does it take for someone to be considered one of the best in the business at what they do? Segel has now written three absolute winners (this, plus Forgetting Sarah Marshall and last year’s fantastic Muppets revival) and the films he is in as a supporting or starring role are both critically well received and profitable (see: I Love You, Man; FSM; Knocked Up). Throw in the quite literally bad Bad Teacher (which grossed over $100 million despite it being reviewed poorly) and he’s on quite the hot streak. And by all accounts it couldn’t be happening to a nicer guy. I’ve been a Segel fan for a long time (I keep up with “How I Met Your Mother” and have been watching weekly since Season 3 after watching the first two seasons – the best, mind you – on DVD) and it’s good to see him have success in film as well.

Overall, I cannot recommend Five-Year Engagement enough. It’s funny, heartfelt, and realistic. It’s unfortunate that it only made $10 million in its opening weekend and films like American Reunion, The Lucky One, and even The Three Stooges can open to twice that much. Here’s hoping that more fans of Bridesmaids (which is all over the posters for the film since Apatow produced both) check it out because for me, Engagement is far superior to last year’s sleeper hit. I mean, what can I say? Every now and then, a movie comes along and…

Oops. There I go again with the cliches…

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