‘The Threesome’ Movie Review: Three Winning Leads And Sharp Writing Buoy Vanilla Rom-Com
Photo from Vertical
From Jeremy Kibler
For a film titled The Threesome, this is a pretty vanilla romantic comedy. Director Chad Hartigan (Little Fish) and writer Ethan Ogilby clearly have an affection for romantic comedies about young people still getting their lives together. It’s a little Reality Bites in that regard, and then their sex lives throw them a life-changing curveball. This film approaches the edge of being a little bolder and then pulls back. Then again, the writing can be sharp and empathetic, and the performances are all winning.
Before he left the restaurant industry, 30-year-old sound engineer Connor (Jonah Hauer-King) had a crush on his co-worker, Olivia (Zoey Deutch), whom he did end up sleeping with once. When Connor meets Jenny (Ruby Cruz), who’s stood up on a first date, Olivia enters the mix and the three of them hit it off for the night. What happens next involves what usually happens when people have unprotected sex, and things get complicated.
The Threesome has a daring hook, that’s for sure. It’s fresh, dipping its toes into messy territory, but ultimately becomes unexpectedly traditional. Actually, the most untraditional element here is that the film is set and shot in Little Rock, Arkansas, a refresher from the standard Los Angeles or New York City.
The kind-eyed Jonah Hauer-King (I Know What You Did Last Summer) is in a tough position, having to be a solid support system. Out of this threesome situation, Connor may be the least compelling as written, but this is the most charismatic Hauer-King has ever been. Naturally, the effortlessly radiant Zoey Deutch can just light up a room (the gaffers can just pack it up and go home). She also gets the most complex, interesting character to play and nearly runs away with the entire movie. Either playing Olivia as high-strung or vivacious, she is always so watchable and blessed with quick-witted repartee (for instance, when Olivia may be pregnant, she questions if keeping the baby will make her Republican). Ruby Cruz (Bottoms) almost gets lost in the shuffle, but she is definitely not one to underestimate. As Jenny, Cruz has a grounded presence and brings a sly comic verve.
The supporting players are the ones who serve the most laughs. Jaboukie Young-White is so likable and funny as Connor’s best friend Greg, even if it’s odd that his husband seems to go missing after their wedding. Though they do feel lifted from a sitcom at first, Arden Myrin and Robert Longstreet still get a few scene-stealing moments as Jenny’s God-fearing parents, as does dependably wonderful SNL stalwart Julia Sweeney as Connor’s excitable mother.
Beyond what kind of story this ends up being, the plot strains itself with a few contrivances along the way, like the whole “let’s-pretend-you’re-my-boyfriend-in-front-of-my-parents” charade that will pop at the most inopportune time. More frustrating is an eleventh-hour reveal involving Kevin (Josh Segarra), a married man Olivia has been sleeping with. Fortunately, The Threesome has an otherwise smart handling of its leading trio that the film is still extremely hard to dislike. When it’s at its best, it’s buoyant and emotionally honest.
Rating: 3/5
The Threesome hits theaters on September 5, 2025.
