The Story of Us

The Story of Us; comedy, USA, 1999; D: Rob Reiner, S: Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rita Wilson, Colleen Rennison, Tim Matheson, Rob Reiner, Julie Hagerty, Betty White, Red Buttons




Ben and Katie are making an assessment of their 15-year marriage. Even though they have two kids and good friends, they constantly have arguments and feel frustrated. Ben is a writer of novels whereas his agent Stan is telling him that arguments are normal. Katie is accusing him of publicly revealing their private problems and that she doesn't have any time for their kids. Just as they are about to get divorced, they change their minds and make up.

It's a pity that interesting director Rob Reiner lost his spark and sharpness, falling to the low branches of crafting "delivery" projects for Hollywood such as "The Story of Us" which imitates his own classic "When Harry Met Sally...". However, the Reiner who directed "Harry and Sally" did a much better job than the Reiner who directed "The Story of Us". It is difficult to call this a "love story" since it has a too strong anti-romantic charge whereas only the two main actors Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer manage to "smuggle" in small examples of charm and talent in an otherwise completely mild, bland and lost story which turns almost hysterical towards the end. Still, a few good jokes can be found here and there, like one marriage counselor who has a birthmark shaped like California which confuses the couple. An overstretched flick that somehow manages to survive despite banality.

Grade:+