Rent Two for the Road (1967)

cars and scenery - Two for the Road review by tezza

beautiful technicolor irritating couple's relationship over 10 years or so, nice old cars, some comedy, Finney particularly irritating

Relationship shuffle. - Two for the Road review by Steve

Funny, flashy relationship drama set in a gorgeous touristic France, which plays out over 12 years. A young, attractive couple meet on the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry, fall in love and marry, then have a daughter, while drifting inexorably apart. This is staged over five driving holidays. Episodes from these are shuffled together so the scenes move freely between each trip.

So experiences from different times of life are contrasted to comical or wistful effect. The dialogue which starts as flirtatious develops an edge. They acquire more money but have less fun. Their passion gets run down. And they have affairs. It's an old sad story.

Albert Finney as the husband is inscrutable, but Audrey Hepburn as his wife is hugely sympathetic and charming. The ostentatious, modernist style which once made it chic is now dated, but it has acquired enormous nostalgic appeal, including the cars and Audrey wears groovy Carnaby Street fashions. And the tourist sites are blissfully uncrowded.

The film ends with a romantic crisis, but it doesn't exhume their disappointments to much depth. Part of the problem is Finney doesn't give the impression he has much to lose. This is a light, entertaining film which is more comical than tragic. There is stylish direction, a clever script and Henry Mancini's lovely easy listening score applies plenty of surface gloss.