Michael Jacobs’ romantic comedy makes an attempt to current a common portrait of the difficulties confronted by {couples} younger and previous, these simply beginning out and people married for a few years. So it’s ironic that Possibly I Do, which options such stellar display veterans as Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and William H. Macy plus relative kids Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, has precisely the other impact. As an alternative of referring to the characters onscreen, you marvel at how all of them look so good. The dominant message isn’t that every one {couples} have points, however quite that film stars age so a lot better than the remainder of us.

Including to the dissonance is that the movie represents reunions for most of the solid members — and that we’ve seen them collectively earlier than, more often than not in a lot better movies. Gere and Sarandon have performed married {couples} in Shall We Dance and Arbitrage; Keaton and Sarandon appeared in 2013’s The Large Wedding ceremony; and Gere and Keaton memorably embodied ‘70s-era sexual licentiousness in In search of Mr. Goodbar. Even Roberts and Bracey have beforehand co-starred, in Netflix’s romantic comedy Holidate. And, after all, Gere has famously labored a few instances with Roberts’ aunt, Julia. All of it makes you assume that as a substitute of the movie, we must be watching footage of the solid members having drinks collectively.

Regardless of the formidable star wattage and estimable abilities on show, nonetheless, Possibly I Do fails to beat its apparent stage origins, feeling all too schematic and talky. The plot feels prefer it might have been lifted from a French farce from the final century. Thirtysomethings Michelle (Roberts) and Allen (Bracey) discover their romance threatened when the latter, within the form of dumb transfer that might solely occur in unhealthy films, actually takes a flying leap to forestall Michelle from catching the bridal bouquet on the marriage ceremony of their greatest mates. As a result of that’s what you do while you need to convey to your vital different that you simply’re not fairly able to make a dedication.

In the meantime, their moms and dads are all having affairs, of each the sexual and emotional type. And get this: They’re unwittingly having them with the mother and father of their youngsters’s lovers! Don’t you hate when that occurs? Howard (Gere) and Monica (Sarandon) have been assembly in resort rooms for months, though he’s already bored together with her. And Grace (Keaton) and Sam (Macy) spend a young night collectively speaking and consuming fried hen after she spots him sobbing whereas watching a international movie in a movie show and consoles him. (Which solely encourages me to cry like a child the subsequent time I’m going alone to my native multiplex).

Evidently, it wouldn’t be a romantic comedy until all the key characters bought collectively for a gaggle dinner, offering the chance for the older performers to observe their double takes and pratfalls as their characters out of the blue understand whom they’ve been dishonest with. All of it results in a number of alternately critical and joke-laden conversations amongst each the group and in numerous one-on-one configurations, which could have performed properly onstage however right here merely comes throughout as synthetic.

The author-director’s sitcom sensibility (he’s been a artistic drive on such reveals as Boy Meets World, Charles in Cost and My Two Dads, amongst others) permeates the proceedings, detracting from the script’s often humorous one-liners and astute observations about relationships. You actually have to present him credit score for attracting such a stellar solid (which can solely replicate the restricted starring alternatives afforded to actors of a sure age), who infuse their characterizations with their well-honed comedian instincts and killer timing. Macy, for whom the phrase “droll” might need been invented, practically steals the movie; Sarandon is clearly having a hoot because the va-va-voom randy senior of the group; a properly underplaying Gere relishes the rare alternative to show his comedic chops; and Keaton does her cute Keaton factor, which miraculously by no means lessens with age. Roberts and Bracey, little doubt conscious that their major function is to set the farcical plot in movement, fulfill their duties charmingly.

As if to remind us that we’ve seen this form of factor numerous instances earlier than, Possibly I Do concludes with the compulsory picturesque montage of Central Park in all its autumnal and wintry glory. In any case, the surroundings has to look nearly as good because the performers.