The thing that popped out at me about this film was the cast. Man Up stars Lake Bell and Simon Pegg, neither of which have I seen play in this type of film. So, right off the bat, that intrigued me. I love Simon Pegg, and to see him as the leading man in a romantic comedy was something I couldn't pass up.
Man Up debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in April of 2015, then had its theatrical release in the UK the following month. It tells the story of Nancy, a 34-year old, single woman who is on her way home to celebrate her parent's 40th wedding anniversary. She meets a young woman on the train who tells her that she's on her way to meet a blind date. Nancy inadvertently runs into the woman's blind date, and he mistakes her for his date. Instead of setting him straight, she decides to go with it.
Director Ben Palmer and writer Tess Morris did a fantastic job at taking these two characters and showing us just how perfect they are for one another. The dialogue is quick and witty, and it had me laughing at several points throughout. And while it did follow the basic three-act rom-com formula, it did it in such a way that it kept me invested in these characters and their relationship for the entire film.
Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Star Trek) was masterful as the sharp and witty Jack. This was an amazing role for him and makes me want to see more from him in this style. He was paired perfectly with the lovely Lake Bell (Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Children's Hospital) who played Nancy. Their chemistry together was incredible. They were one of the most believable couples I have ever seen in a rom-com. It never once felt forced between them.
This is by far one of the best romantic comedies I have ever seen. It had the perfect amount of humor, romance, drama, and never felt corny. It's up there with the likes of Love Actually (which also happens to be a British rom-com).
If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend checking out Man Up while it's still available on Netflix.
The Merc's Score: 8/10
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