Fantastic cast does its best

MAYBE I DO

Director: Michael Jacobs

Cast: Diane Keaton,

Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, William H. Macy

Rating: (M) ★★+

The rather flaccid romcom Maybe I Do (Rialto, Metro) is a prime example of a movie that, in aiming to gratify both the silverdollar market and a younger generation of downwithit filmgoers, if such a thing even exists, is destined to please noone in particular.

Yet while being noticeably short on romance, or indeed comedy, it does at least boast a cast of upforit screen legends who lend the whole thing a muchneeded dose of charm and charisma, and are basically the only reason to give it any time whatsoever. So, you have been dutifully warned.

Firsttime writerdirector Michael Jacobs has reworked his play, Cheaters, for the big screen, although perhaps he should have stuck to theatre. Young couple Michelle (Emma Roberts) and Allen (Luke Bracey) are going through some young couple difficulties, mostly due to Allen’s inability to commit to marriage and a future. Both take some time apart with their respective parents, and it is decided that a dinner in which the potential inlaws can finally meet will maybe calm things over.

As it turns out, Michelle’s mother Grace (Diane Keaton) and Allen’s father Sam (William H. Macy) have just shared an evening together in a cheap motel, while her father Howard (Richard Gere) and his mother Monica (Susan Sarandon) have been having an affair for the past few months. Sarandon is the MVP here although all the actors do a fantastic job with an otherwise contrived farce that has little depth or insight or reason to exist.