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Being in a relationship is like holding on to a stick, according to Rebecca (Julianne Moore), sometimes it’s a short stick and you see each other clearly, sometimes it’s long and you’re far away, but you never let go of your end of the stick. She’s talking about commitment, something the men in Trust the Man have difficulty embracing. Bart Freundlich’s first comedy takes a close look at two Manhattan couples – the successful actress (Moore) married to the failed advertising creative (David Duchovny), and the aspiring children’s book author (Maggie Gyllenhaal) dating the freelance journalist (Billy Crudup). Both couples face familiar issues, as the men desperately try to find meaning in life as individuals (through affairs, therapy, recovery groups), and the women jump deep into career ambition. Eventually the couples are able to find purpose through their relationships with one another. The spiritual “let go” message of faith for the modern (and non-religious) person is tied to marriage, love, and specifically for the men – growing up and giving in. The film is better than a lot of romantic comedies, but it’s still narrow enough, and has enough corny over-the-top antics to keep it firmly, if begrudgingly, in that category.
