They Came Together

Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler team up for this spoof of mainstream romantic comedies featuring jokes that don't always land, but the easygoing chemistry of the stars helps to pave over the more awkward stretches. Filmmaker David Wain combines original gags with familiar plot developments from hit movies like When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail to tell the tale of Molly (Poehler), who owns a New York candy shop, and Joel (Rudd), who works at a major corporation that is trying to put Molly out of business. It isn't personal, of course; Joel is just an “office drone,” as his slacker brother (Max Greenfield) puts it. In a framing device, the pair recount their history to a couple played by Ellie Kemper and Bill Hader. Molly and Joel meet when friends (Melanie Lynskey and Jason Mantzoukas) set them up, and initially find each other unbearable, but after a chance encounter in a bookstore, true love takes root. After a series of ridiculous misunderstandings, they break up, leading Joel to reunite with his two-timing ex-girlfriend (Cobie Smulders) and Molly to date an accountant (Ed Helms) who doesn't interest her in the least. Before the end of the film, there's a cameo from Michael Shannon and a last-minute race to call off a wedding. It's all perfectly predictable—which is the point—but the concept simply falters whenever Wain wanders away from his leads, despite the participation of game performers from SNL and 30 Rock. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)