Maybe I Do [2023] is a star-studded romantic comedy featuring Richard Gere, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, and Emma Roberts. The film is a tale of lost love intermingled between six individuals and the crossed relationships they all share publicly and secretly. Screenwriter Michael Jacobs makes his feature directorial debut and could not have been gifted a better cast for such an event. Does this cast make for a memorable rom-com? Or does it fade away into the soaked genre?
Quick Tongue: Straight out of the gate, Michael Jacobs showcases his writing abilities. His script is quick-witted and entertaining. The scenes between Gere, Keaton, Macy, and Sarandon produce a real sense of chemistry. Their conversions feel real even if they are over-bloated privileged white relationships. They are a miserable bunch of individuals, but I assume that was Jacobs’ intention. These four people have different perspectives on the philosophy of love — representing the hope, failure, misery, and fantasy of love — a fascinating part of the movie and produces some hilarious moments.
The Great Four: Richard Gere has not acted like this in years. It was an honest performance with one of the only redeeming arcs in a story that takes place in less than 24 hours. Diane Keaton plays this role like a quirky grandmother that always makes the right decisions. She is heartfelt and heartbreaking. Susan Sarandon is cold and disgusting; hateful to the bone. She’s perfect in her role in the narrative. William H. Macy strikes one as a lost poet and hopeless romantic. It is a stereotypical role, but his delivery is far more entertaining and relatable than most in the history of the genre.
Misfit: Michael Jacobs knows how to find the words to create his narrative however, Jacobs lacks feature filmmaking experience. There is a similar paintbrush to his time writing television scripts. At times, that can break the pace of a typical feature film making Maybe I Do feel more like a stage play. Typically, the pacing of a movie is relatively slower.
The perfect cast elevates this otherwise dull and predictable tale.
The story won't surprise anyone, but the performances alone are enough to make it memorable for a short time.
