MovieChat Forums > The Story of Us (1999) Discussion > Surprised by the bad reviews

Surprised by the bad reviews

posted 11 years ago by surfergrl70
4 replies | jump to latest

Someone else on this board commented that this movie was like getting $4000 worth of therapy in 90 minutes, and I tend to agree. It's a very realistic look at a marriage (at least one where the partners seem to give a damn and want to work it out). I have a few girlfriends that would benefit greatly from watching this movie.....they would realize that these petty irritations are common of most marriages/long-term relationships, and that they aren't reasons to get divorced. I really liked the movie, thought it was a very realistic look at a loving marriage.

[–] JaraPT 11 years ago

I agree with you. I think it was very brave to make a movie about a failing marriage, with all its ups and downs. It is not a romantic story and I think that is what people may expect. I also think this was one of Willis´ best performances.

[–] leyenda61 9 years ago

I always enjoy watching this movie back-to-back with "Forget Paris". Yes, they were both cheesy, but consarnnit, I like these two movies a lot.

-- Sent from my 13 year old P.O.S. Desktop®

[–] leyenda61 9 years ago

I just rewatched this. I realized i haven't seen it in like 10 years. Man, time flies. Some of the acting & writing haven't aged so well, but the themes do. I forgot how much dialog in rom-coms during this era were scripted like Richard Belzer stand-up routines. Those aspects of the film didna age so well.

-- Sent from my 13 year old P.O.S. Desktop®

[–] Drooch (5333) 2 years ago

Agreed. This is a very good movie from the great Rob Reiner and deserves far more respect and praise.

It seems very polarising. I can only imagine that its haters wanted a heartwarming rom-com and got a face-full of cold, hard reality about how brutal marriage can be. The irony is that the trials Ben and Katie endure are what make the highs all the more heartwarming. They’re earned, they’re authentic.

Equally, critics took a dump on it. I suspect this is because it doesn’t go for gritty realism and has a rom-com aesthetic complete with Harry Met Sally monologues and humorous Seinfeld banter.

To me it’s a successful mix. It works and it’s great seeing the sparks fly between Willis and Pfeiffer under Reiner’s sure storytelling hand, and the final monologue is a million-dollar moment.