Richard Atkinson and Jane Scandurra's documentary *Single spends 97 minutes exploring a subject—the large number of unmarried people in the U.S.—with a degree of depth that seems more suitable to a 10-minute news segment. The film notes there are 100 million single adults in the country, and that—in many cities—singles now outnumber married couples. The filmmakers suggest that the women's movement of the early 1970s played a key role in this sociological shift, while also noting that contemporary focus on professional pursuits and changing attitudes about relationships are causing people to defer marriage. What could have been an interesting report is unfortunately repetitive and dull, with a number of obscure academics and comedians offering less-than-illuminating commentary (even worse, Atkinson and Scandurra seem to believe that the upper-middle-class denizens of a Manhattan cocktail lounge they speak with are representative of the population at large). *Single also pads its running time with travelogue-style shots of New York landmarks and famous locations in London and Paris (apparently, there are unmarried people in England and France too). Bonus features include director and producer interviews, behind-the-scenes photos, and more. Not recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
*Single
(2009) 97 min. DVD: $19.98. Osiris Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 24, Issue 6
*Single
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