The title I Give It a Year (2013) is an example of it meaning exactly what it says.  Sometimes, producers give names to project that are meant to be metaphorical, or simply suggest some aspect of the plot.  And I know I am spoiling the film by saying this, but I did not care for the ending, so I feel less bad for doing so.  Then again, it is something I eventually do in all my reviews, so take that into consideration.  All the same, it is my Catholic Faith that causes me to be critical of the proceedings from the outset, and that extends to some of the other material found therein.  I chose it because it is set in London and I liked the cast.  Additionally, it can be used as a cautionary tale as to the importance of proper discernment before one enters into marriage.

It is the marriage of Josh Moss (Rafe Spall) and Nat Redfern (Rose Byrne) that has their family and friends saying to each other, “I Give It a Year.”  Indeed, that is precisely what Nat’s friend, Naomi (Minnie Driver), says to Hugh (Jason Flemyng), Naomi’s husband, at the reception.  This comes after a disastrous, rambling best man’s speech by Josh’s long-time companion, Danny (Stephen Merchant).  During Danny’s explicit soliloquy, he also references Chloe (Anna Faris), Josh’s American ex-girlfriend who is also in attendance.  Josh gets up in front of the attendees to deliver some words and save the evening, but it gets no better from that point.  Later in the soiree, Danny and Josh perform an over-the-top dance that does not go well with Nat, and one of their candle-lit, floating lanterns lands on a tent and sets it ablaze.  That is when we jump ahead nine months and find Josh and Nat talking to Linda (Olivia Colman).  Linda is a marriage counselor, but because this is supposed to be a comedy, her advice is terrible.  Nonetheless, she listens to them as they unwind all the issues they have been having since they took their vows.  Though they seem to get along at first, there are little things that annoy them about one another.  These are issues like Josh not emptying the trash can when it is full, or Nat getting wrong the lyrics to songs.  However, the biggest challenge comes in the form of Chloe for Josh, and Guy Harrap (Simon Baker) for Nat.  The potential pitfalls of Chloe should be obvious, but Nat is aware of Josh’s ex-girlfriend.  Further, Chloe is a classy person who tries to respect Josh’s space, even if it is evident she is still in love with him.  Guy is the newcomer, the American owner of a chemicals company based in England.  Guy’s business is working with the advertising firm with which Nat is employed, and, of course, she is his liaison.  From the start of their interactions, it is clear that he is better suited for her than Josh.  As a business woman, Guy’s urbane manner appeals to her more than Josh’s goofy antics.  As such, she attempts to hide the fact that she is married.  Events come to a head near Christmas.  Having trouble coming up with gifts for Nat, Josh turns to Chloe for assistance.  They go to a lingerie shop and she decides to try on some of the merchandise.  When she complains about having some trouble with a bra clasp, he walks into the changing room and they kiss.  As this is going on, Nat is having yet another “business” meeting with Guy.  By this point, he has dropped all pretense and is openly discussing his feelings for her.  For the moment, she is fending off his advancements, but it is not for lack of desire.  Simultaneously, Chloe and Josh, and Guy and Nat, start walking down the street and the four of them awkwardly run into each other.  Stumbling around for something to say, Josh suggests that the four of them go out some time after Christmas.  I am not sure how they land on this arbitrary date because the time Josh and Nat spend with their families during the holidays goes poorly, with inappropriate pictures of their honeymoon being shown to Nat’s parents. The shock of that moment is followed by the strained time Chloe, Guy, Josh, and Nat spend on the town.  The idea is to set up Chloe and Guy, but every time they flirt, Josh and Nat look on with envy.  As they part later that night, Nat asks for a moment with Josh to discuss their potential deal, but ends up making out with him.  Meanwhile, Josh is trying to get a cab for Chloe, but she mentions that she can no longer see him since she is still in love with him.  Once Josh and Nat get home, they talk about their relationship.  They acknowledge there are problems, but neither are willing to give up.  This brings them to their meeting with Linda.  While she is nuts because, again, comedy, she does provide some usable insight.  For the next couple of months, they need to start living each other’s lives.  Once they hit the one-year mark, they can re-evaluate their marriage.  This appears to go well, with them learning to appreciate the other person in the relationship.  On their anniversary, they are planning a celebratory date when she comes out of their room wearing the underwear that Chloe had helped to choose.  Suddenly, he wants to see her again and departs, calling over his shoulder that he will meet Nat at the restaurant.  Yet, when he gets to her flat, she is leaving with Guy, suitcase in hand.  At the same time, Nat gets to their original destination and finds their family and friends waiting as a surprise.  When Josh finally gets there, it is to tell Nat that he wants a divorce.  She happily agrees, and they separately track down Chloe and Guy to the train station.  Everyone expresses their love to the supposed right person and the movie ends.

Even as the intended couples are getting together at the end of I Give It a Year, I hoped that Josh and Nat would mend their differences and stay together.  As a Catholic, I believe in the sanctity of marriage.  It is not that couples who have entered into the Sacrament are always going to stay together.  Even the Church recognizes that there are certain discreet cases wherein a husband and wife can have their union dissolved.  The problem with the movie, and I realize this is something most non-Catholics will not recognize, is that the story is quite modern in its views on marriage.  The Church is traditional about such things, but not without good reason.  Though there is some concern voiced by family and friends about the seven months Josh and Nat know each other before they are engaged and married, Catholicism is not so concerned with that aspect.  If it is the person God has intended for you, then any length of time will do.  It is figuring out whether you have met that person that is the tricky part.  To this end, Josh and Nat admit something wise to Linda during their session, namely that they had been in love with the idea of being in love.  In the beginning, and the movie does a solid job of demonstrating this in a secular manner, everything is fireworks and being swept off their feet.  Actually being with one another in a lasting relationship can be about that, but there is also dealing with the mundane that can be tricky.  I would argue further that being together is also not like Hugh and Naomi, who openly and rudely bicker about everything.  They are the other side of the joyless relationship divide as put forward by the film.  Instead, the Church spends a lot of time preparing prospective couples for as much of the upcoming years as is possible.  This is a process called Pre-Cana, which is a Biblical way of saying marriage preparation course.  You do not see this at all in movies because the process sounds boring.  We would much rather have our future bride and groom rush into the rest of their lives for our cinematic entertainment.  These attitudes are far more prevalent than you might think.  Naturally, the missing element is God, so I should not be surprised how the film ends.

In a broader sense, I guess I should not be surprised by Josh and Nat stating their wish to divorce given a title like I Give It a Year.  Not only is their behavior distasteful, but so are the scenes when Nat’s parents are subjected to the lewd photos.  As such, I would avoid this one.