Maybe I Do Review: A Frivolous Discourse on Romantic Commitment

Philandering septuagenarians get outed at dinner with their children. Starring Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, & William H. Macy.

Three couples at different stages of their relationships face marriage, adultery, and monogamy crises. Maybe I Do has two pairs of septuagenarians cheating on each other while their children date. The millennials hit a commitment snag, decide to involve their parents, and schedule a family dinner where everyone meets for the first time. Shenanigans predictably ensue as the philandering spouses have a painfully awkward encounter. Maybe I Do attempts insightful discourse on the merits of marriage. Can love last after the physical excitement wanes, procreation occurs, and time inevitably passes?

Sam (William H. Macy) sits in a movie theater alone crying in his bucket of popcorn. The equally friendless Grace (Diane Keaton) watches him sob with interest. She sits beside Sam and starts a casual conversation that proceeds further. Across town in a swanky hotel room, Grace’s husband Howard (Richard Gere) and Sam’s wife Monica (Susan Sarandon), engage in their usual lustful frivolity. Guilt has caught up to Howard. He decides to end their liaisons after four months. The vivacious and vindicative Monica swears she will find “a way to kill him.”

A Disappointed Michelle

Meanwhile, Sam and Monica’s son Allen (Luke Bracey) makes a horrendous mistake at a friend’s wedding. He intercepts the bridal bouquet like a football as it heads towards his longtime girlfriend Michelle (Emma Roberts), the daughter of Grace and Howard. A furious and disappointed Michelle gives Allen an ultimatum. She wants to get married. He’s either on board with impending nuptials or they should break up.

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Michelle and Allen retreat to their parents’ homes for solace. Sam begs Allen to make the leap with Michelle, while Howard thinks this boy may not be worthy of his daughter. Michelle decides it’s time for the families to meet. The doorbell rings with shocking surprise all around. Infidelity comes to light as everyone wonders if they should stay with their significant other.

Bringing Parents into the Equation

Accomplished writer and producer Michael Jacobs (My Two Dads, Boy Meets World) adapts “Maybe I Do” from his play. Jacobs’ feature directorial debut feels like a sitcom episode stretched into ninety-minutes. The verbose characters engage in unbelievable dialogue about what’s missing from their lives. Sam despises the domineering Monica. Howard loves Grace but felt the itch to tread in other waters. Michelle and Allen are pretty much married, but he’s terrified of formality. These issues are commonplace among partners. It’s unfathomable that Michelle and Allen would bring their parents into the equation to settle differences. This might have made sense from afar, but to drag them physically into such a heated moment? That would never happen. Willing suspension of disbelief couldn’t carry me across that bridge.

Derails Meaningful Conversation

Sarandon plays Monica like a femme fatale villain. It’s implausible that Sam would remain married for decades to such a vile person, or that she has any warmth as a mother. Therein lies the rub. The forced set-up derails any meaningful conversation on lasting romance. There’s never any doubt to the outcome. A dose of truth would have Sam and Monica divorced before meeting Howard and Grace. The inane coincidence would then have more punch. It’s farcical to think these people would be total strangers when their kids are living together.

Maybe I Do is a production of Fifth Season and Vincent Newman Entertainment. It is currently in VOD and limited theatrical release from Vertical Entertainment.