Wildflower Red

Totally engaging, superbly acted, with witty dialog. I'm a straight woman in my late Sixties, yet I loved this move when I first saw it years ago and I love it still on perhaps my eighth viewing. It has much in common with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?" in its "Get the Guest" dynamic covering a deeper purpose. It's not difficult to see why Edward Albee was an early champion of the play. "The Boys in the Band" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?" both have character elements that reach across human nature and are not just relevant to the sliver of society they portray. The movie succeeds in making you feel that you are at this party with the characters, totally sympathetic to their issues and understanding why they occasionally lash out at each other when a nerve is struck while ultimately supporting each other through crises.

A true test of a good romantic comedy is when you can watch it several times over months and feel like you are hanging with friends on the fifth viewing. Like the real Jessica, the viewer can take delight in seeing these two whimsical characters get together. Of course, it's predictable, but the fun is how you get there. As enjoyable as it is at first view, Man Up is even more fun in subsequent viewings when you can fully appreciate the character development. The film is a fun romp, with likeable and engaging characters and witty dialog. After streaming it several times on Youtube, I ended up buying the DVD/Digital so I would have it when no longer available for free streaming. I'm amazed to learn here that Lake Bell is an American--her British accent sounds flawless. Bell and Simon are supported by a fine British cast.