The idea of more than two people getting intimate is instantly titillating to many. Well, the magic number is three, but the point stands. Being a little taboo might just be the thing to spice up the love lives of a small group.
The Threesome, from director Chad Hartigan (Little Fish, Morris From America), explores what happens on the long tail of such an adventure. Olivia (Zoey Deutch) and Conner (Jonah Hauer-King) have known each other for years, and while his earnest good looks might be enough to woo another, her smart mouth wants very little to do with him. Until that very much changes.
Enter Jenny (Ruby Cruz), a sweet girl who finds herself alone at a restaurant after being stood up. Conner's best friend Greg (Jaboukie Young-White) pushes him to approach the new girl, and before you know it, they along with Olivia are dancing and partying the night away. Things escalate into a game of truth or dare, as they so often do, and the throupling commences.
The film doesn't sit in the lurid at all, but quickly moves to the next day, where Conner and Jenny continue their activities after Olivia checks out. From there though, it's Olivia and Connor who end up going down the relationship highway.
This part of the movie is pure rom-com. The writing is witty, and Deutch delivers it like it's her own lived experience. There's sweetness, snark, and all the possibilities of young love. As enjoyable as it is, this section sets the stage for what will be a much more complicated second half.
Jenny might have been off screen, but she reappears with a wallop. At the same time, the new couple faces their own challenges. It's a rollercoaster that turns and twists until the credits rol, showcasing the chops of all three leads in a multitude of ways.
The extended cast elevates The Threesome from a good movie to a real joy. Kristin Slaysman and Allan McLeod play Olivia's sister and brother-in-law, the keepers of two out-of-control toddlers. Arden Myrin and a funny but intense Robert Longstreet play Jenny's parents with just the right amount of cringe. Julia Sweeney does such a great job as Conner's mom that she's essentially screaming for Hollywood to find her more roles.
The Threesome ends up touching on several contemporary political issues, and uses its location of Little Rock, Arkansas to probe those and give it a very earthy feel that SoCal productions don't always have.
With its strong cast, crisp writing and exploration of the messiness of rash decisions, The Threesome embodies the essence of the romantic comedy while never falling into stereotypes or cliché. It's fun, thoughtful, and heck of a ride.