‘You, Me & Her’ Review: A Married Couple Admits a Plus-One in Deft Relationship Tale

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In traditional marital comedies, couples who try to add excitement by involving other people usually find themselves returning, humbled, to their original partners. However, the TV show “You, Me & Her” doesn’t judge its characters for exploring a three-person relationship. Instead, it delves more into the challenges of maintaining a long-term marriage and dealing with the complexities of domestic life, as portrayed by director Dan Levy Dagerman and writer-star Selina Ringel, who are in fact married themselves.

This film is subtly humorous with a surprising deeper tone at its end. Released since 2023 in various festivals, it will debut in U.S. theaters on Valentine’s Day as the first production using Attend, an innovative digital and marketing platform for independent filmmakers to distribute their work directly.

Despite portraying an affluent lifestyle in Los Angeles, shared with their young son Kai Desai and live-in au pair Fiorella Vescovi, it’s evident that the 10-year relationship between Mexican American Mags (Ringel) and Indian American Ash (Ritesh Rajan) is strained. In bed together, she’s absorbed in her laptop while he surreptitiously slips away to a private moment, an act she is keenly aware of. Both face the scrutiny of their somewhat overbearing immigrant parents, but Mags bears the brunt as she works for her demanding father’s (Hernan Mendoza) private equity firm. Her disdain for Ash’s casual approach to marijuana use contrasts with his growing ambition to establish a substantial business dealing in cannabis cultivated from imported seeds. However, securing the necessary funds for this venture has become a source of stress for him.

Mags and Ash, a mixed couple living in LA with their son and an au pair, seem fine on the outside but their relationship is troubled. They have different work ethics – she works for her father’s firm while he wants to start a big marijuana business. They also clash over his casual use of marijuana. Both struggle under the watchful eyes of their demanding immigrant parents, with Mags having it worse as she works for her dad.

As a result, they each harbor professional concerns they believe their partner fails to understand, along with minor annoyances escalating into a persistent background of disagreement. A relaxing escape to an eco-luxury resort in Mexico, recommended by Ash, seems timely. However, their first night turns sour: They unintentionally become involved with a couple (portrayed by Roberto Aguire and Marianna Burelli), who are not only married to different people but also overtly predatory when it comes to swinging lifestyle. The next day, after hastily extricating themselves from this brief adventure, Mags participates in a beach yoga session. The instructor is Angela (Sydney Park), with whom she instantly connects. Beyond friendship, there’s an undeniable attraction — Mags discovers a dormant bisexual side awakening within her.

This event stirs up excitement instead of envy within him, hinting at a joint night of celebration that may possibly lead to a threesome in their near future. However, Angela is about to embark on a new job opportunity in Thailand, forcing the couple to return home. Yet, the flirtatious incident has rekindled passion in their marriage. Both are buzzing with anticipation when they discover Angela will have a layover in L.A. en route to Asia. A night filled with intimacy (and/or observation) is expected… though things take an unexpected turn for the chaotic, largely due to an inconvenient visit from Ash’s boisterous business partner (Graham Sibley) and his equally forthright spouse (Anna Campbell).

The main part is generally humorous with a hint of risqué yet tasteful humor, enhanced by an energetic soundtrack and Michael Street’s vibrant, wide-screen cinematography. However, Ringel’s script skillfully avoids cheap jokes and instead finds genuine depth when the central duo, due to physical desire, bad news, and simmering anger, start genuinely clashing with each other.

The intense fight they had is no laughing matter; it’s filled with harsh words that may be difficult for their relationship to overcome. Although these characters aren’t always sensitive or selfless, the way their grievances are portrayed feels painfully authentic, making the film’s optimistic resolution all the more fulfilling – a calm and conciliatory ending that seems plausible for both of them.

Featuring sharp acting and a fast tempo, save for a single dance scene in the house (Mags’ impromptu moment), “You, Me & Her” successfully achieves its modest goals with remarkable ability. The show’s main issue lies in its title, as it shares a name with another trio-centric TV series from the U.S. and Canada, called “You Me Her,” which ran for multiple seasons not long ago.

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2025-02-14 16:17