Take This Waltz (2011)

"Is that that Seth Rogen guy? What's he doing?"

"I think he's... acting."

"Acting? You mean actually giving a performance without using immature fart or stoner humor as a crutch to compensate for an apparent lack of talent? Well, I'll be... Do miracles never cease?"

   Seth Rogen is, indeed, quite good in this. The scene where he expresses, in various takes, his shock and horror at his wife's infidelity is revelatory. Overall, though, "Take This Waltz" is so-so, marred by a lack of likable characters and consistent dialogue.

   I there's one thing you can say about this movie, it's that it doesn't glorify the act of adultery in any way. Bored housewife Margot (Michelle Williams, who gives a very nice performance here) engages in cutie pie antics and baby talk with her husband, Lou (Seth Rogan,) but longs for passion and intimacy.



   When Margot meets Daniel (Luke Kirby,) a handsome artist, sparks fly almost immediately. As it turns out (damn you, fate!,) Daniel lives right next door to Margot and Lou's place, and temptation for indiscretion may be too much to resist. But what are the consequences for such an act?

   I was underwhelmed by the dialogue here... sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it was cringe-worthy. It felt like the movie was divided into two different worlds- one where intelligent characters say intelligent things, and one where a verbal expression comes directly out of a third-rate sitcom.

   The relationship between Lou and Margot was interesting. I could neither fully support it, nor deny it's moments of comfort and familiarity. I can understand Margot's need for a more intellectually stimulating relationship (as any reasonably intelligent person would presumably have,) as many of the 'tender moments' between them were saccharine or just plain icky.

   However, we don't really see a side of Daniel that allows us to understand Margot's prompt crisis. In fact, some of the dialogue was just as vomit-inducing, and the scary thing is, I'm not even sure it was meant to be. For the most part, the characters were more exasperating then likable.

   This would be a much better movie if not for the dives in quality of dialogue. "Take This Waltz"'s acting is both fresh and powerful, as is it's refusal to slap itself with a happy ending. However, I have difficulty recommending it and will, sighing, present my ambivalent review.
                                                            Rating-
                                                    6.0/10