Literally, Right Before Aaron

Writer-director Ryan Eggold relates the strange, agonizing story of lovelorn thirtysomething Adam (Justin Long), who receives a call from his ex-girlfriend Allison (Cobie Smulders), telling him that she's getting married and inviting him to her upcoming wedding. Against the advice of his best friend Mark (John Cho), hapless Adam decides to pack up his VW Beetle and drive back home to San Francisco to attend the nuptials, hoping to convince himself and everyone else—including her fiancé Aaron (Ryan Hansen)—that he is truly happy for her. As one embarrassment after another humiliates Adam, Mark echoes the viewer's sentiment by plaintively asking, “What are you thinking? Why are you doing this?” Pathetic Adam is an aspiring nature-documentary filmmaker who is being browbeaten by his employer, egocentric Orson Schwartzman (Peter Gallagher). Adam isn't able to move forward until he emotionally discards the idyllic concept of fairy-tale love that he still harbors for Allison, his college sweetheart. And when other well-wishers ask why he's there, someone says, “Adam and Allison used to go out,” and another adds, “Literally, right before Aaron.” Unfortunately, this “anti-romantic” comedy (in the words of Eggold) is an unpleasant mess, with a supporting cast—including Dana Delany, Luis Guzmán, Kristen Schaal, and Lea Thompson—whose considerable talents are wasted. Not recommended. (S. Granger)