Paulzeye.com - Confusions of an Unmarried Couple ***

"Oh, Lisa. What happened? I love you. Why couldn't you love me?"

Dan (Brett Butler) is desperate for answers as he sifts through the pieces of his once-delightful relationship in “Confusions of an Unmarried Couple.” He wants to understand why his relationship with Lisa (Naomi Johnson) failed. His tone reflects his cheerless mood and his disheveled appearance helps us understand just how miserable he is without Lisa.

Dan is a modern-day philosopher in his own mind. Even though his views on life are sometimes negative, he seems to have experienced a number of relationships - enough to chat about them in great detail. Lisa is similar and throughout the entire film, both characters are interviewed. As we listen to both sides of the story and learn more about the characters, we are drawn to them.

“Confusions of an Unmarried Couple” is the third feature film by Brett Butler and Jason Butler, two Canadian-born brothers who love movies as much as they enjoy making them. Their two first efforts, “Alive and Lubricated” (2005) and “Bums” (2005), proved that they could be filmmakers. This time around, they are filmmakers and not only is “Confusions of an Unmarried Couple” their most mature film but also their most genuine.

The film conveys its message through dialogue and two very credible performances. Although the dialogue is for the most part coarse, the coarseness feels necessary. Ex-lovers are expressing themselves and their thoughts are not entirely peachy. At one point, Dan asks himself, “Why can’t you love my penis the way I love Pretty in Pink?” The first part of the question may be rude but the other half tells us something about Dan. He loves the movie “Pretty in Pink.” The Butler brothers are experts at at sharing their appreciation for the movies with viewers. They made film references in their previous films as well.

"Confusions of an Unmarried Couple" is film that is not difficult to follow or comprehend. It examines the ups and downs of a relationship without dramatizing the painful process of “getting over” an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend. The Butler brothers deserve their share of praise for creating a film that is true to life, funny, touching, and equally abstract. They have found a formula that works and with this third film no one can deny that they are on their way to stardom.