Tampa Film Fan

film fan finding:confusions of an unmarried couple

Canadian filmmakers Brett and Jason Butler are obsessed with sex.  In their film Bums, they chronicled the single guy’s Saturday night search for a hook-up.  Their new film Confusions of an Unmarried Couple takes a look at the sexual issues of Dan and Lisa’s relationship: the excitement in the beginning, the boredom as time goes by, adultery, lesbianism, breaking up, making up, loneliness and the pre-planning needed to successfully participate in a threesome.

Dan and Lisa have broken up because of Lisa’s adultery with another woman.  After weeks of depression spent sleeping on a friend’s sofa consuming too many beers (and not bathing or shaving nearly enough), Dan decides to go back to Lisa’s place to reclaim some of his possessions and hopefully a bit of his dignity.  This leads to a sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-profound afternoon of their yelling at each other, revisiting old wounds and creating new ones. Interspersed throughout this present-day afternoon fight is confessional video footage of Dan and Lisa shot over the past few weeks since the breakup, where they’ve each revealed far more to the camera than they ever did to each other.

The Butlers’ creative use of “chapter breaks” that show past photos of the happy couple and highlight the issues that the couple struggle with (tact, fidelity, maturity) is a unique way to break up the film.  These breaks, coupled with the videotaped confessional flashbacks, give the film a whimsical non-linear quality that avoids the potential overkill of watching a couple fight for an hour.  Actors Brett Butler (Dan) (who also wrote and co-directed the film) and Naomi Johnson (Lisa) portray this couple realistically and passionately without going over the top. 

This is not your run of the mill indie comedy-drama, by any means.  Confusions of an Unmarried Couple is a unique mix: an engaging relationship drama combined with a risque sexual comedy, sprinkled with deeply profound observations about sex and dating.  In addition to the obesession with sex, this film contains all of the other items I consider to be standard in any Butlers brothers’ film: solid writing, creative directing and a kick-a$$ soundtrack. Plus, there’s a small homage to John Hughes and an unusual ending.

This film is like my favorite candy: a little sweet, a little tart, just the right size, leaves no bad aftertaste, and I want to share it with my friends.

Film Fan Finding: A-