Almost marriedHaving made a name for herself in hit television series The Inbetweeners, Emily Atack is now pursuing a career in cinema, in a film that’s somewhat similar to, well, The Inbetweeners. However where the ingenious comedy shines in it’s vulgarity, Ben Cookson’s debut feature falls flat. Simply because the protagonists, to be completely honest, are just a little too old to get away with it.

Atack plays Lydia, a beleaguered bride to be, readying herself to marry the calamitous Kyle (Philip McGinley). However when the latter was whisked away on a stag do in Newcastle by his best man Jarvis (Mark Stobbart), a disastrous trip to a brothel resulted in the groom catching a sexually transmitted disease. Ashamed of his adulterous actions, Kyle remains silent on the issue – though while he’s waiting for the infection to clear up, Lydia begins to get suspicious as to why her long-term partner seems to now have an aversion to sex.

The biggest problem with this picture is the character of Kyle, as our entry point and protagonist, we’re supposed to be rooting for him and hoping he can get through three months without being sussed out by his other half. However it’s exceedingly difficult to take his side when he’s just a bit of an imbecile. He’s cheated on his adoring fiancé (who is bloody lovely) with a hooker and we’re supposed to support his cause? Instead you find yourself hoping he gets found out and the wedding is called off as a result, which goes against the point of the movie somewhat. There’s nothing wrong with having a flawed lead, but Kyle is so flippant, frivolous and insincere in his approach to the situation, that you struggle to endear yourself to him, or find any empathy.

The relationship the entire film hinges on is difficult to invest in too, devaluing the picture in the process. Not only is he a liar, but she’s willing to leave him because they aren’t having enough sex. I mean, if that’s how flimsy the relationship is, it’s not worth marrying each other guys. It’s just going to end in tears. That’s not the most effective viewpoint to have from the audience’s perspective either, considering the film is build upon their wedding. Meanwhile, the film is overtly crude and unrefined, and in some cases, very funny. However it would work better had the leads been somewhat younger. Rather than laugh at Jarvis for his crass ways, like we do with Jay from The Inbetweeners for instance, you just think, mate, you’re a grown man – sort yourself out.

There are a handful of truly funny moments, and the whole premise to this title is perfectly simplistic and makes for a picture that’s easy to indulge in. However there isn’t quite enough fluency to the dialogue, as it feels too wooden and stilted at times – and to be consistently hilarious you need that rhythm. Luckily the respective in-laws are something of a saving grace, and while much of the comedy derives from their scenes, you can’t help but wish they had been the main focus instead.

[Rating:2/5]