Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
After 15 years of marriage, Katie and her husband, Ben, have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren't happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good.
The Story of Us is a middling romantic dramedy that benefits from two charismatic leads (Willis and Pfeiffer) who bring genuine emotional weight to a familiar premise, but the film ultimately feels like a conventional Hollywood take on marital strife. The plot follows a predictable separation-and-reconciliation arc with little structural surprise, and the screenplay leans on sitcom-style bickering interspersed with earnest sentiment. Rob Reiner's direction is competent but visually flat, offering nothing distinctive cinematographically. The ending — Pfeiffer's monologue cataloguing why their relationship is worth saving — is the film's clear standout moment, emotionally effective if somewhat manipulative. Novelty is low; the material covers well-trodden ground without a fresh angle or distinctive voice.