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Smart, funny, and powered by fine performances from Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson, Drinking Buddies offers a bittersweet slice of observational comedy. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Although they're both dating other people, two co-workers (Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson) hang out together in bars and try to ignore their mutual attraction.
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Rating: R (Language Throughout)
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Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
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Original Language: English
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Director: Joe Swanberg
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Producer: Paul Bernon, Sam Slater, Andrea Roa, Joe Swanberg, Alicia Van Couvering
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Writer: Joe Swanberg
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Release Date (Theaters): limited
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $342.9K
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
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Production Co: Burn Later Prods.
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for Drinking Buddies
Critic Reviews for Drinking Buddies
Audience Reviews for Drinking Buddies
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This. Is. Mumblecore. Some critics and audiences feel that this movement is the official death of cinema. My take on Drinking Buddies is that not since Richard Linklater's earliest works has a film been so refreshing and unique. Naturalistic settings, minimal narrative structure, and what seems like improvised dialogue by four incredible actors, Drinking Buddies is the Indie romance I've been wanting to see again since the 90s.
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Dressed down, sunglassed up Olivia Wilde sans bra and make-up is crazysexycool as just one of the guys in a microbrewery of dudes. She has great chemistry with gruff 'n grumble Jake Johnson, and they play platonic, opposite sex besties with camaraderie and tension. There are some great silent, intimate moments (Kate quietly and awkwardly getting into bed with Luke; Luke bringing Kate a beer and Kate giving him some fries at the end), but the movie is a little indie-slow with not so much as a "will they/won't they" arc but a "will they do the 'will they/won't they' arc...or won't they"...arc...? It's unclear whether Luke and Kate are into each other or not, so the climax that reveals "what could have been" comes out of nowhere.
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This is a pretty damn smart romantic comedy that makes perfect use of improv in order to make the characters and situations feel more natural and organic. Perhaps that's what I liked most about the movie, there weren't any shackles holding the cast back. They weren't given a script that they had to stick to. The actors were given the freedom to do what they felt their character would do in a given situation and it works perfectly. You get a blend of comedy but also a very insightful view at relationships between friends and couples. I found the film to be far more insightful than it was funny to be honest. But, again, the comedy felt natural and believable. This is a movie that doesn't try to give in to cliches and it's better for it. The cast is excellent with the, obvious, highlights being Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde, who looks absolutely stunning here. I liked their chemistry very much because they legitimately acted as if they were friends that were shooting the shit most of the time, while also subtly trying to hide their true feelings for each other. So that was great as well. That's about it really, this is not the type of movie that would appeal to a wide audience but this an intelligent film nonetheless and the cast definitely makes it better with their organic chemistry with each other.
jesse o Super Reviewer -
Did this movie have a plot? I'm not so sure. The film is centered around these 2 friends who are obviously flirtatious with each other. However, I felt like nothing ever really significant happened. It was quite boring at times. Didn't have a good script. I really like the 4 leads and didn't have any problems with them. I think they did the best they could with such little material to go on. But........its just not enough to make this film good. Or interesting. Personally, I would skip it.
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