You're first reaction to the newest romantic comedy to hit the big screen is "Oh, it's another one." And at first glance, you'd be right. In quick succession we've had Maid in Manhattan, Two Weeks Notice, and now Just Married. Only this one is different.

Maid in Manhattan was mediocre, Two Weeks Notice was reliable, and Just Married is really good. The film is faithful to a reliable genre. Boy meets girl, loses girl, then gets her back again. In this case, Just Married begins as the couple--Sarah and Tom (Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher)--are returning from their honeymoon in Europe. And it did not go so well. In fact, they have decided to end the marriage.

Through a series of flashbacks we find out just how badly things went. Sarah is from a wealthy background, Tom not so much. Sarah's parents don't want them to marry, but express their thoughts without actually standing in the way of the nuptials. Before the wedding, the couple gets along fine--it's on the honeymoon that their difference in class becomes obvious and problematic. Tom is a buffoon. Sarah's not.

I won't deny that one of the reasons I like this movie so much is because a large part of it is slapstick. The plot is stereotypical and the resolution is all too simple. The sight gags come thick and fast. Like the little yellow car they rent in France. The humor is big enough to drive a truck through, but it's really fun. Tom, Ashton Kutcher, plays the all-American sports loving loud mouth. And Brittany Murphy is all sweetness and love.

At 5'1", Brittany Murphy does not look like your typical Hollywood actress. She actually has curves and maybe even the likelihood that she has to dress carefully, a refreshing thought in an industry that idolizes emaciation.

So, for my taste, I really enjoyed this movie, but I really enjoy slapstick. Watching people fall down and run into walls tickles my funny bone, call me crass. So Just Married really worked for me. Beyond the bumps and bruises, I also liked the overall message of the movie. It's what happens between the Kodak moments that makes a marriage.


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