You might know Jason Sudeikis as TV’s ‘Ted Lasso,’ a big-hearted figure with a kind word to say about everybody he meets. But before starring as the lovable soccer coach on Apple TV’s acclaimed feel-good show, Sudeikis was most known for his leading roles in raunchy comedy movies like “Horrible Bosses” and “We’re the Millers.”
During this time, Sudeikis also starred in a crude but charming romantic comedy that paired him with “Community’s” Alison Brie. The movie is called “Sleeping with Other People,” and it’s a great pick if you’re looking for an easy-going watch over the New Year period. Its themes of personal introspection and self-improvement are also very on brand for the part of the year when people commit to change and make resolutions.
Having missed this comedy when it launched in 2015, I’ve just circled back to watch it now that it’s arrived on Netflix (as of Dec. 31), and found a delightful little movie. It might not have grand ambitions of reinventing the rom-com genre, and it’s certainly not a perfect movie night pick for the whole family, but with two likable leads and some solid gags, it’s worth watching.
What is ‘Sleeping with Other People’ about?
Opening in 2002 at Columbia University, Jake (Jason Sudeikis) and Lainey (Alison Brie) meet and spend a memorable evening together, before going their separate ways and assuming they’ll never see each other again.
Years later, both have become serial cheaters, unable to commit to a proper grown-up relationship. Running into each other at a sex addiction meeting, they strike up a platonic friendship as they each attempt to figure out their own personal baggage.
But you can probably tell where this is going. There’s an undeniable chemistry between the pair, and while they initially swear to be just friends, they soon start to ponder if the one person they might be able to commit to is actually each other.
Why you should stream ‘Sleeping with Other People’ on Netflix
The success of a movie like “Sleeping with Other People” primarily hinges on the likability of its leads. Fortunately, Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie are more than capable of shouldering that responsibility. Each is charming alone, but when thrown together, their chemistry is clear, and it’s easy to buy into Jake and Lainey’s “will-they-won’t-they” dynamic.
Throw in strong support from Adam Scott, as a thoroughly unlikeable teaching assistant, alongside the likes of Katherine Waterstone, Jason Mantzoukas and Natasha Lyonne in smaller roles, and you’ve got a great comedic cast. Better yet, these actors are given solid material courtesy of writer/director Leslye Headland. While “Sleeping with Other People” might not have much new to say about relationships, it’s good-natured and quite funny.
The movie is also pretty crude, so while it's effective comedy makes it an enjoyable watch, it’s definitely one for the grown-up viewers among us. This isn’t a rom-com to put on with the whole family, unless you want the face-clawing awkwardness of watching multiple sex scenes while sitting next to your parents. And that’s not how I’d want to kick off a new year.
And that’s all there really is to “Sleeping with Other People,” its simple setup is a facsimile of the movie itself. There are no real attempts at audience subversion, the character arcs play out as you can predict from the very beginning, and it’s all neatly wrapped up within a tight 100-minute runtime. But the romantic comedy genre isn’t always, or even often, about subverting viewer expectations; it’s at its best when it gives you likeable characters, chuckle-worthy humor, and a sweet storyline.
Watch "Sleeping with Other People" on Netflix now
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