IS IT WORTH IT? ‘YOUR PLACE OR MINE’: A ROMANTIC COMEDY WITH HIGH HOPES

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As part of the leading lady’s production company and one of the Netflix productions of 2023, Your Place or Mine is here.

Your Place or Mine (2023) Netflix Film Review

Working hard but doing things sensibility is how Debbie (Reese Witherspoon) structures her life. It’s safe and good, and as a single mother, this is all she needs. Her life is her son, a young teen who not only struggles with finding friends but also more allergies than anyone can remember. Her one constant in the past twenty years has been her best friend. The one guy who she hooked up with all those years ago, before limiting their relationship to friends. Only now he lives at the other end of the country.

Peter (Ashton Kutcher) is a bit of a drifter. He left LA for New York and hops from client to client in consulting jobs. Staying in one place and keeping one relationship isn’t his thing. Debbie has seen him at his worst and best, and now, just when she’s about to come to New York to finish her sensible accounting degree, her plans for a babysitter fall through. This prompts Peter to fly to LA to take care of Jack, all while realizing this week just may give him clarity on what’s next.

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This is easily a film that I think many were most anticipating from Netflix. It had so much going for it from a cute concept to a recognizable and likable leading pair. It’s also one of those movies I was most anticipating. Not only because of the cast, but its genre. A resurgence of nostalgic and good romantic comedies is something I really want to see. Sadly, much as I wanted to adore this, it falls a little flat.

The script is from a consistent favorite in Aline Brosh McKenna who is known for The Devil Wears Prada and Morning Glory. (Both of which I just re-watched.) The script is fine, and I did see praise as it being the best (genre) script in a long time. I don’t think it’s her best, but it’s fine. What I have discovered, or most likely, rediscovered is that I really don’t care for the couple-being-apart-for-99%-of-the-film trope. This one feels, somehow, more painful. Plus, another thing that kind of bugs me (but in a very minor way) is the cross talk. During Debbie and Peter’s conversations, sometimes it feels like someone is mumbling and they aren’t really listening to each other.

Despite my complaints, don’t let this imply I didn’t like this one. I did. It won’t be one I consider a “classic” favorite or a re-watch a-million-and-one time sort, but I’ll gladly watch it again at some point. It’s lovely to see Reese Witherspoon in the genre we adore her best in again, and of course, Ashton Kutcher is well versed in the friends trope. I did figure out the reason why Peter does what he did (before the script tells us), and can appreciate that while there is a how-dare-you kind of scene, it’s not as annoying as most.

This film has good set ups and promise. It just misses using it well. While I wish I were writing this with gushing comments, Your Place or Mine is sure to please many viewers. It has some charming scenes and a good cast. It just misses some opportunities.

Stream the film exclusively on Netflix

Photos: Netflix / Hello Sunshine

Content: there are two suggestive scenes. One opens the film and shows a couple making out, heavily, before they make it to the bed where they begin to undress and kiss more (we see this in flashback too). Later, a couple also begins to undress and make out before he carries her to the bedroom. We see them lying in bed the next morning. There’s discussion about adults using each other for sex. There is some profanity, including an F-word. The film is PG-13.

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