10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up stars Christina Ricci as Abigail, a mother of two, who instantly has chemistry with a guy, Benjamin, played by Hamish Linklater, but before they can get to know each other, reality hits them in the face and forces them to get serious quickly. I saw the preview for this movie before The Photograph and was intrigued by the premise, which reminded me of a more conventional Obvious Child except in this film, the focal point is the relationship. Unlike Obvious Child, Abigail is a seasoned adult when the movie starts so she has stability of self. I am a Ricci fan, and I have not seen her in a film for awhile so casting her as the protagonist outweighed not being a fan of the genre.
I do not usually watch romantic movies. As I get older, I find them incredibly unrealistic then the details distract me. Still setting 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up in New York was an added incentive, but what sealed the deal was when the preview briefly showed the credits, and I recognized the name of the writer and director, Galt Niederhoffer. In the interest of full disclosure, we went to school together, and occasionally when we catch it up, it is encouraging and positive so now I had to go and root for her. The length of the movie, one hour fourteen minutes, and the proximity of the theater made the commitment seem worth the cost in time and money even if I did not like it.
I liked 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up. My inner critical dialogue was still in the corner mentally screaming at the protagonist as if it was a horror movie, but I could still go with the premise and hope that these crazy kids would work it out while totally not believing it would. It was possible though not plausible or likely. Given the length of the movie, I was impressed at how quickly the film was able to establish a rhythm and routine so I could understand the protagonist before we got too deep into the second act. Ricci has a grounded and serene credibility that allows her character to make mistakes without permanently ruining the viewer’s ability to consider her character reasonable. Linklater is innately likeable though his character set off my alarm bells fairly early, which is why I will be eternally single. The title is based on a seemingly flirty game that the characters play with each other, not a long term gimmick that Benjamin uses to deflect responsibility and cling to being honest when things do not work out. Since they have already playfully admitted that the relationship is doomed, they can just enjoy each other and coupledom before they inevitably split up. I was surprised that the movie did not take more deliberate beats each time they did something on their list. I am not saying that I wanted it, but I did expect it. Maybe the movie worked better without belaboring that point.
10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up had great pacing and momentum. It does have a built in clock that moves us forward, but the film also has moments in which it rests and allows us to appreciate hygge, a Danish word for coziness. All the characters succeed at the impossible by creating a fragile space to feel at home with each other, which also raises the stakes beyond an already high level, and the film conveys that feeling to its viewers so we cannot simply write it off as a misguided experiment. It could work because we saw it. Then it speeds up to help us think that this routine is solid, a done deal. The kid actors were great.
10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up also gives us early glimpses of each character at his or her worst before they team up so the invisible sword of Damocles feels especially poised on the most vulnerable members of the group. Abby’s worst moment is with her friend when the friend says what the viewer is theoretically thinking while simultaneously knowing that it is too reductive based on witnessing the characters’ experience. Abby responds with such a smug, fifty-three percent response that is not even true for her or the best response considering that fairly early in the film, my first thought about this friend was that she did not do a great job of vetting this guy. Benjamin’s worst moment is when Abby has her first serious conversation with him on their second date. I wanted him to ask himself all the questions that he was asking her. Condoms are free.
If I had to complain about 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up, it started with the how we got here trope, which I think sucks all suspense from a movie. I am not willing to sign a waiver in this specific case, but I also do not think that it ruined the suspense because if we have heard about this film, we go in expecting that scene so it is not exactly a surprise. Still for such a short film, it is repetitive to see it twice. I also thought the meet the family scene was too short, and we needed to see more with the oddly silent women whom I am assuming are her sisters or not include them at all because it raises more questions than it answers.
The MVP of 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up is the protagonist’s ex. I will not ruin it for you, but if you are a guy who is mature enough to respond to a request instinctually thinking of the best interest of your children and still are willing to do the job that you literally are no longer signed up for, then you deserve some sort of award. I know that it was not the mission statement of the film, but I would have loved to know why they broke up.
10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up could have been longer. I would have loved if the protagonist asked more follow up questions. It felt as if the film was too decorous with respecting Benjamin’s taciturn responses and wondered if it was something that the protagonist never explored later or the film chose not to show us. It feels as if it would have come up as they got to know each other. It is important to respect boundaries, but he never replied that she could not continue to ask questions, just gave brief, one word answer questions. I would have asked why so many times. Because the film is not exclusively told from the protagonist’s point of view, but occasionally detoured and followed Benjamin, it felt as if omitting these details up to the end was not organic although the pivotal turning point scene does tell us a lot about his emotional makeup by implication. I enjoy engaging in armchair psychology so I would have loved to know details about his life. I do not even know what he did for a living.
10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up only has one showing at a local chain theater so it is unlikely that it will come to a theater near you, which is unfortunate, so if you do get a chance to see it, and enjoy this genre, but belong in a more mature age bracket, then this film is for you.