Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 2 ratings
Can two serial cheaters get a second chance at love? After a one-night stand in college, New Yorkers Lainey and Jake meet by chance twelve years later and discover they each have the same problem: because of their monogamy-challenged ways, neither can maintain a relationship. Determined to stay friends despite their mutual attraction, they make a pact to keep it platonic, a deal that proves easier said than done.
Sleeping with Other People is a charming but derivative romantic comedy that leans heavily on the friends-with-benefits template popularized by similar films like When Harry Met Sally and No Strings Attached. The plot follows a predictable arc with little subversion — two commitment-phobes resist the obvious until they can't. The leads (Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie) bring genuine chemistry and comedic timing that elevate the material above its formulaic structure, making the acting a modest highlight. Cinematography is functional NYC rom-com fare — pleasant but unremarkable. Novelty is low given how thoroughly the premise has been mined before; the film adds some frank sexual humor but not enough to feel truly distinctive. The ending resolves exactly as expected, hitting genre beats without surprise or particular emotional resonance.