The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

One year after meeting, Tom proposes to his girlfriend, Violet, but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together.

Director:

Nicholas Stoller

Writers:

Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller

Stars:

Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Segel	...	Tom Solomon
Emily Blunt	...	Violet Barnes
Chris Pratt	...	Alex Eilhauer
Alison Brie	...	Suzie Barnes-Eilhauer
Lauren Weedman	...	Chef Sally
Mimi Kennedy	...	Carol Solomon
David Paymer	...	Pete Solomon
Jacki Weaver	...	Sylvia Dickerson-Barnes
Jim Piddock	...	George Barnes
Adam Campbell	...	Gideon
Eric Scott Cooper	...	B&B Manager
Dakota Johnson	...	Audrey
Jane Carr	...	Grandma Katherine
Clement von Franckenstein	...	Grandpa Baba
Michael Ensign	...	Grandpa Harold

Storyline

In San Francisco, after a year's relationship, Tom proposes to Violet; she accepts. She's an experimental psychologist, hoping for a post-doc at Cal. He's a sous chef who runs the kitchen when the chef is away. When Cal falls through and she gets an offer in Ann Arbor, Tom agrees to support the move, turning down a job as chef at a new restaurant. The move requires postponing the wedding. At Michigan, Violet is in her element, but Tom is underemployed and frustrated; he's Stoic for a while, but when two years in Michigan become four, Tom's frustrations boil over, and on the eve of yet another wedding date, they must make a choice. Is there any other alternative?

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Plot Keywords:

kitchen | kissing while having sex | reference to princess diana | wedding band | wedding ring | 

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Taglines:

A comedy about the journey between popping the question and tying the knot.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, and language throughout

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jason Segel claimed that he was ordered to lose weight for the role, and was assigned a trainer. Ultimately he lost 35 pounds.

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Goofs

During Tom's conversation with his parents at breakfast, Tom picks up his fork and in the next shot he picks it up again. His mom's drink also changes positions and levels throughout the meal.

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Quotes

Audrey: Hi! I missed you today.
Tom Solomon: That's nice.
[pauses]
Tom Solomon: Listen, I need to talk to you about something, Audrey.
Audrey: What's behind those eyes, Tom?
Tom Solomon: My ex-fiance has been on my mind a lot and I feel like that's something I need to explore.
Audrey: Well, she's an old bitch! There, I just explored it for you. Done?
Tom Solomon: It's hard to have this conversation with you.
Audrey: You need to explore it, Tom? You were with her for five fucking years. That's a really long time. What else is there to learn about her?
[yells]
[...]

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Alternate Versions

An Extended Version which runs 7 minutes longer than the Theatrical Version, at 131 minutes was released with the Blu-ray releases in 2012.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.126 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Give Me A Kiss (One Sweet Kiss)
Written by Van Morrison
Performed by Van Morrison
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

There are no safe spaces in love

I do not understand why there are so many bad reviews. The film is very good.

I was intrigued by Emily Blunt's presence in the film so I downloaded it and was very surprised because it turned out to be so much better than I expected. There is one noteable thing about it - almost all the situations that are supposed to make you laugh are at least 1/3 unfunny as they are. This is a very believable quality about the film - it makes you look at life from a distance and understand that all those stupid actions and decisions that people make are just funny as hell. And with a little love you can even come to a happy-end (I don't think it's a spoiler, this is obviously not Macbeth, you knew a happy end was there). But this is what makes this film an actual challenge for some people. It is NOT PLEASANT. It does not put you into a dreamy or giggly state. It is actually quite raw, sarcastic and real. I do believe that we live in times when real things are considered unnerving and even evil. Some people would very much rather have safe spaces built in every corner of the city and not deal with reality. Well, in true love there are no safe spaces. True love makes you stay with a person through all the ugly things and through the funny things and through the good things, obviously.

Acting is on the spot. Everyone knows that Emily Blunt is one of the most talented actresses. Jason Segel is handsome and compelling, support cast entertain you in every possible way. The dialogues are great. Everything sounds very natural.

7 our of 10 - because 10 is Fellini and Visconti. One of the best modern chick flicks I've ever seen.

Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 April 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Five-Year Engagement

Filming Locations:

Beltane Ranch, Glen Ellen, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,610,060, 29 April 2012

Gross USA:

$28,835,528

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$54,169,363

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 131 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1