Newlyweds

Actor-writer-director Edward Burns revisits familiar territory (i.e., relationships, New York City, family) in Newlyweds, delivering a fitfully smart and witty story about the unspoken strains beneath seemingly stable bonds. Burns stars as Buzzy, a 40-ish personal trainer on his second marriage. His wife, Katie (Caitlin Fitzgerald), is a successful restaurateur whose vagabond actor ex-husband (Dara Coleman) leans on her and Buzzy for cash. Buzzy and Katie believe they have the formula for a successful marriage down: since they don't see each other or talk very much, the time they do spend together is special. Unfortunately, real life intrudes when Buzzy's flaky half-sister, Linda (Kerry Bishé), shows up out of the blue and Katie's judgmental older sister, Marsha (Marsha Dietlein), breaks up with her unhappy spouse (Max Baker)—collectively dumping problems on Buzzy and Katie's doorstep that test the faith in their own union. For some reason Burns chose to direct this in an all-too-familiar, faux-documentary/faux-reality-TV style where the action frequently stops so characters can comment into the camera. But who on earth would be documenting these people and why? It's an arbitrary and annoying conceit that hurts an otherwise engaging film. A strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh)