Together Together (2021) Movie Review
Together Together has taken on the trend of telling stories about alternative families and love stories. Matt (Ed Helms) is an app developer who is single and without children. He hires a surrogate so he can build a family on his own. Anna (Patti Harrison) is a twenty-something loner who works at a coffee shop. It’s clear as soon as she becomes pregnant that Matt wishes he could be more involved. He frequently stops by Anna’s work bringing her shoes to help as she stands on her feet all day and healthy teas. He’s eager to learn about what she’s feeling with the baby and wants to be as present with Anna as possible.
Anna on the other hand is a little less enthused about spending time with Matt. She tries to keep him at arm’s length but eventually is won over by his good nature and pure intentions and begins spending more time with him. The two form an unlikely friendship and it’s clear they begin to care about each other. Their time together begins by doing the required visits like attending doctors appointments and group therapy sessions for surrogates. But it leads to more occasions where the two just hang out. They shop together, grab dinner together, and watch Friends together. You’re probably getting the title of the movie now. Of course things get complicated because, well, they aren’t technically “together.” What do you do when you care deeply about someone you’re not romantically involved with but they’re having your baby? A question I bet most people have never considered.
Together Together is a wonderful story about two people whose paths cross due to odd circumstances who form an intense bond. Ed Helms and Patti Harrison have incredibly good chemistry together which makes the movie work so well. Plus the script, written by Nikole Beckwith, is packed with funny moments as well as sweet and gentle moments that remind you that relationships and friendships are still worthwhile. The story isn’t entirely new, we’ve seen movies about surrogates before – most notably Baby Mama (2008). But Together Together offers a nuanced and happier tale than previous movies. Much of that is due to Beckwith’s script but we should also credit Helms and Harrison’s acting performances. They are both sympathetic characters who find solace in each other. It’s a love story, but not the kind you might expect.
One scene in particular addresses the possibility they could fall in love by discussing Woody Allen’s films Annie Hall and Manhattan, with Harrison calling out the problematic age gaps present in many of Allen’s films. Movies about friendship between heterosexual men and women are rare and often fall prey to obvious tropes and pitfalls. Together Together tackles those head on and is able to, for the most part, avoid being too obvious. If you’re looking for a sweet movie about an unlikely friendship, Together Together is for you.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like stories about friendship
2. You like stories that diverge from nuclear families
3. You like stories about finding yourself
