Television writer and Oscar nominee Michael Jacobs brings together a quadrant of Hollywood veterans for his directorial debut Maybe I Do from Vertical Pictures. Michelle (Emma Roberts) and Allen (Luke Bracey) have reached the point in their relationship where they are ready to take the next steps toward marriage. Thinking it is a bright idea to invite their parents to meet. Finally, they set dinner and make it a family affair.
To everyone’s surprise, the term affair takes on a new meaning. The parents already know each other well. You see, they have been cheating on their spouses for months with each other. Michelle’s dad Howard (Richard Gere), is seeing Allen’s mom Monica (Susan Sarandon). While Allen’s dad Sam (William H. Macy), is involved with Michelle’s mom Grace (Diane Keaton). Trapped in this precarious predicament, they try to hide their dalliances from the kids while confronting their spouse’s lovers head-on.
Michael Jacobs was integral to my childhood as he created some of my favorite nineties sitcoms, including Boy Meets World, The Sinbad Show, and Where I Live. Additionally, Richard Gere is still one of my go-to actors, so I’m always open to checking out one of his movies. The movie introduces us to the parents first and then the kids. Observing the setups between the elders, I get the vibe that Jacobs wanted to establish.
Early on, it was clear why both couples wanted to get their feet wet. Gere, Keaton, Susan Sarandon, and Macy all bring their usual quirks to the movie and could do these roles in their sleep. As for Roberts and Bracey, they hold their respective ground against the veterans. The film’s run time is short and gives off the vibe of a stage play, but it works.
Considering Jacobs’ television background, I was surprised there weren’t many laugh-out-loud moments in the film. There were moments that Maybe I Do could have hit the tropes of a Billy Wilder-style. Ideally, we set up a witty situational comedy with many jokes but very little vulgarity. Nevertheless, Maybe I Do did keep my attention and is a solid one-off for fans of the cast. Jacobs was able to show restraint and make a more subtle film than what he was used to in his television career. He was able to create a balance between the zany comedy and the profound moments. The result was a movie that was funny yet tasteful and thoughtful.
Final Grade: C+
Maybe I Do hits theaters this Friday, January 27th.
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