Swinging with the Finkels (2011) starring Martin Freeman, Mandy Moore, Jonathan Silverman, Melissa George directed by Jonathan Newman Movie Review

Swinging with the Finkels (2011)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Mandy Moore in Swinging with the Finkels (2011)

As Interesting as a Cucumber

Ellie (Mandy Moore) and Alvin Finkel (Martin Freeman) have found the romance has gone as they have got caught up in the boredom of day to day living. Alvin's work colleagues realise that he has become distracted at work and suggest he needs to spice up their love life by dressing up. It doesn't work nor does Ellie's friends suggestion of using a cucumber. Eventually the Finkels decide that to bring the spice back to their relationship they should try some swinging and set about interviewing the right couple to join them in some consensual infidelity.

"Swinging with the Finkels" is proof that a movie can feature the right cast; it can be memorable but still end up a mess. Right from the word go "Swinging with the Finkels" is painful and only becomes more painful when it tries to be outrageous which frequently does and unfortunately it is one of those movies which seems to make time stop as you begin clock watching early on and you frequently find that only seconds have passed when ever you look again.

Martin Freeman in Swinging with the Finkels (2011)

Now to be fair "Swinging with the Finkels" has a reasonable idea for a movie, not exactly original but the concept of a couple trying to spice up their love life after it has become mundane and routine has plenty of potential to be funny. But the humour generated in "Swinging with the Finkels" is depressing and that actually comes from some strange casting as whilst Mandy Moore does sexy you have Martin freeman doing the ordinary. It is unbelievable and sadly watching Freeman doing nice guy ordinary again is not exactly an enthralling experience. In fairness Freeman is so good at doing amiable he is perfect but it is like watching magnolia paint dry.

What this means is that "Swinging with the Finkels" becomes all about the set pieces and when it is over it is those you will remember. As such there is Mandy Moore and a cucumber scene which rivals anything which Jason Biggs did in the "American Pie" movies whilst it will be hard to wipe out the image of Melissa George hooked up to a couple of pumps. As I said it tries to be outrageous but it only makes the rest of the movie feel incredibly ordinary, in fact incredibly dull with nothing which is said actually being that amusing.

What this all boils down to is that "Swinging with the Finkels" is a desperately dull comedy which never seems to end as it waffles on and on only broken up by some set piece gags which end up the only thing which is memorable about this movie.


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