In a Relationship

Two couples try to decide if they should stay together in Sam Boyd's feature debut, In A Relationship, which is unlikely to inspire many viewers to root strongly for one outcome or the other.

There's just not enough that's new here - either in what's being said, or how.

"In a Relationship" has a smudged tenderness and almost nostalgic sweetness, as if we're watching these characters painfully learn everything that we already know.

The movie is much funnier than the vast majority of indie comedies, serving as a great audition piece for a career of sitcom directing.

In its own fun and flimsy way, Boyd's film acutely traces the moment when a person learns that our stories only become true by sharing them with somebody else.

Boyd exchanges unrelenting sweetness and conveniently pretty endings for a quiet reminder of the messy uncertainty of evolving relationships.

Lacks the sparkling wit and root-for-them-romance of a good romantic comedy.

Mixing sexiness with sweetness, while also avoiding the dating app culture, this is almost a timeless film.

While you may not see the characters ever sit down to eat, the film itself has plenty of bite.

It's difficult to imagine that a rom-com about twenty somethings in LA could bring anything new to the table, but In a Relationship is just charming and funny enough to avoid problematic narratives or clichés.

The formidable charm of Emma Roberts (and supporting player Greta Lee) is wasted in this strained romantic comedy/drama from writer/director Sam Boyd.

With characters that feel very real, In A Relationship isn't a genre game-changer by any means but still presents a fresh take on the romantic comedy.