REVIEW: Drinking Buddies

Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Living in an age of technological wonder means movie fans have numerous ways to find quality entertainment without leaving their comfy recliners. That applies to film critics as well, especially on weekends when theatrical options are less than promising. I’d been meaning to catch “Drinking Buddies” for a while, so I was excited to see it as an On Demand option recently.

My enthusiasm did not go unrewarded. The satisfying indie romance, from mumblecore filmmaker Joe Swanberg, is an absorbing look at the unintentional attraction that often occurs between friends of the opposite sex. It’s bolstered by a realistic plot, likable and authentic characters, and true-to-life improvised dialogue.

Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) are best friends who also work together at a Chicago brewery. Because of their jobs, they spend a lot of time hanging out and drinking copious amounts of free beer. This leads to a lot of flirting, but neither wants to deal with the consequences of acknowledging what’s clearly going on between them.

They’re actually perfect for each other, except that both are dating other people. Kate is with Chris (Ron Livingston), a music producer who’s several years older than her. Luke is in a six-year relationship with Jill (Anna Kendrick), and they’re talking seriously about marriage.

When the four of them decide to spend a beach weekend together, audiences accustomed to trite romcoms will immediately expect any number of drunken hook-up mistakes. Or perhaps a ridiculous misunderstanding that could be avoided in the real world by having a 30-second conversation. Fortunately, that’s not the kind of storytelling Swanberg is interested in.

Instead, the filmmaker populates “Drinking Buddies” with characters who enjoy each other’s company and generally behave like decent people. So when romantic complications arise (unexpected by the characters, but glaringly obvious to outside observers – just like in real life!), it creates real anxiety for everyone involved.

Wilde and Johnson are terrific: funny, good-looking, and their chemistry practically emits heat waves. In the past, I believed Wilde’s beauty was so otherworldly that playing “normal” characters was almost impossible for her. However, she proves me wrong here; Kate is still gorgeous, but she comes across as down-to-earth and imperfect in unexpected ways. Johnson also delivers a refreshingly nuanced take on his “affable, slightly weird everyman” persona. He even gets to show off some much-welcome dramatic range.

Livingston and Kendrick are equally interesting, though they don’t get as much screen time considering they’re supporting characters. It’s too bad. I’d watch an hour-longer version of “Drinking Buddies” if it meant scenes that provided deeper insight into Chris and Jill. Or maybe a time-bending sequel that rewinds to look at how these characters tackle the emotional developments that arise because of their relationships with Kate and Luke.

I was also surprised to see recent “Saturday Night Live” retiree Jason Sudeikis pop up as brewery owner Gene Dentler for a couple of scenes (particularly since the end credits humorously list the character as “himself”). I’m not sure why it caught me off guard – the actor is engaged to Wilde in real life – but it was an added bonus to an already fun cast.

Swanberg adds to the intimacy of his story through modest sets and low-key, handheld camerawork. However, the actors’ successful execution of improvised dialogue is one of the biggest reasons for the film’s success. Working with only a loose outline of what needed to happen in each scene, the actors were responsible for breathing life and dialogue into their characters.

Fortunately, this risky decision results in genuine conversations. People talk over each other, they stumble with their words and they mutter when they’re not quite sure how to express what they’re feeling.

Stylized dialogue is fun to listen to, especially when it’s done well. Auteurs like Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith excel in this area. But, as entertaining as most of their films are (and I count “Pulp Fiction” among the greatest ever made), no one is ever going to classify the way their characters talk to each other as realistic.

The characters in Tarantino and Smith’s stories speak the way we like to think we do. The people in “Drinking Buddies” speak the way we actually do. It doesn’t necessarily make Swanberg’s movie better than those guys’, but it certainly adds a layer of authenticity.

Some viewers may write off “Drinking Buddies” as artsy or pretentious, simply because it doesn’t follow the standard mainstream romcom blueprint. Personally, I consider that an asset. The film treats its characters like human beings, trusting them to make their own decisions and mistakes. It results in a much more authentic romance than those cheesy flicks that resort to trumped-up obstacles in an effort to keep an otherwise perfect couple apart for 90 minutes.

“Drinking Buddies” is rated R for language throughout.

Grade: B+