... Which is not what I would expect to do for a rom com.
Chris Evans and Anna Faris are adorable together. The movie has all the elements of its genre - implausible situation, funny dialogue with some great visuals as well, mostly light-hearted story-telling, and a happy ending. There's even the time-honored parallel romance of a secondary couple. The activities by which the protagonist couple bonded were a little off the beaten track, which I really enjoyed. Best of all, the script and the performances showed, with a light and deft touch, the moments that, bit by bit, built a truly believable and meaningful relationship between the two protagonists.
Here, then, is why I enjoyed a second viewing and, though I originally only rented it, am now quite tempted to shell out the extra money to purchase. This movie works perfectly as a feel-good rom-com, but it is not fluff. Abusive family dynamics, performative femininity, double standards, the uneasy truce between friendship and flat out internecine warfare among girls and women when they form groups, predatory men and date rape - these are all touched on in Allie's odyssey, offered for thought if one wishes, but never pushed to the fore so stridently that a viewer can't skim over it if they prefer. There are no windy speeches, and yet, small comments, the wedding toasts, and final professions are deep enough to form a lump in the throat. I think Chris Evans is underrated as an actor, perhaps because he is so attractive. Anna Faris was brilliant, and the supporting cast made every moment of the movie believable and fun. Special kudos to Ari Graynor who was a great younger sister to Anna's Allie. These two actresses' sister chemistry really sparked.