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Ira & Abby

Charming romantic comedy considers the ups and downs of married life

By Geoff Berkshire

September 14, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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Neurotic and indecisive Ira (Chris Messina, "Six Feet Under") finds himself agreeing to marry free-spirited and open-minded Abby (Jennifer Westfeldt, "Kissing Jessica Stein") on the first day they meet. Although their respective parents—psychoanalysts (Robert Klein and Judith Light) for him and commercial jingle artists (Fred Willard and Frances Conroy) for her—are still together, Ira and Abby are about to learn staying that way isn't always easy.

Big question: Can this movie explore unconventional relationship territory as successfully as Westfeldt's first effort as a writer/star, the indie hit "Kissing Jessica Stein"?

Catch it: Despite the title, "Ira & Abby" is really about three couples, not just one. Both sets of parents enhance the film's look at love and relationships with hard-earned experience and commitment issues of their own. The result is light but surprisingly fresh, and even a bit insightful.

Skip it: If you hate therapists or, as Ira's parents prefer to be called, analysts. By the end of the film the characters have seen a total of six therapists (well played by actors including Jason Alexander and Donna Murphy).

Bottom line: More provocative than your average Hollywood romance, yet still comfortable enough for date night, "Ira & Abby" is a modest charmer and a good use of talented but underexposed performers.

Bonus: We'll try not to read too much into this but Westfeldt's long-term boyfriend Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") has a small role as Abby's unfaithful, drug-addicted, ex-husband.

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