“TAKE THIS WALTZ” WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH

“TAKE THIS WALTZ” WHEN LOVE ISN’T ENOUGH

The poignancy of Sarah Polley’s second film as director -- “Take This Waltz” now playing at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. --   will have its sharpest bite among intelligent 20-somethings. Those educated and sensitive young people who honestly believe they can beat the odds and find someone with whom to live happily ever after.

Once you realize that won’t happen, all bets are off. It is this moment of painful insight that becomes the heart of Margot’s wandering marriage to Lou.

It’s also important to know Margot is played by the mercurial Michelle Williams, and Lou is Seth Rogen. Yep, the very same Rogen who became a millionaire by acting more stupid than most anyone would ever want to be…millionaire or not.

We all know comedians believe they are, first of all, great actors. And it is true that some, Robin Williams comes first to mind, have turned in very sensitive performances from time to time.

But you can write it down here that Rogen is not likely to become one of those. He is, however, perfect for the part of Lou, a lost but well-meaning guy who has no idea what to do now that he isn’t a kid anymore.

Lou has dedicated his life to five years of kitchen research in writing a cook book of nothing but chicken dishes. When he’s not staring into a big pot of something bubbling on the stove, he is making silly noises and playing silly word games with Margot.

For the longest time, Margot found this childish behavior charming. But with her biological clock ticking and Lou showing no interest in taking more responsibilities, Margot is having second thoughts which she deeply and sincerely regrets. Sure there is no pressure right now…but still.

Lighting matches next to this matrimonial time bomb is the handsomely fey Daniel (Luke Kirby), an artist with a dark side who spends his summers in Toronto taking people for rides in his brightly colored rickshaw.

If all of this seems unnecessarily precious, it is. But Polley, who also wrote the script, has a serious purpose in mind that will ultimately pay off.

So plotwise, Daniel rents the big house across the street from Margot and Lou this fateful summer, enjoys some jaunty conversations with Margot that indicate he might have more strength of character than man-child Lou. All the while, though, Margo is resisting this impression.

But Lou, sensing he might have some serious competition in Daniel, doesn’t know how to compete. Lou’s only option is to intensify his routine of being a big kid.

“Take This Waltz” has lots more to say after Margot makes her decision, but if your movies need to have happy endings, this one isn’t for you.

Another comedian taking a straight role is Sarah Silverman as Geraldine, the alcoholic sister of Lou. Her acting is not all that convincing, either, but she does have one very meaningful scene.