Save the Date (2012)

Lizzy Caplan stars in "Save the Date."

Two sisters deal with relationships and each other in "Save the Date," a well-acted, surprisingly effective romantic comedy co-written and directed by Michael Mohan. The breezy little indie was a Grand Jury Prize nominee at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Lizzy Caplan plays Sarah and Alison Brie is Beth, two twenty-something siblings living in Los Angeles and involved with musicians from the same band. But while Beth is engaged to the sensitive, soulful Andrew (Martin Starr), Sarah's involvement with Kevin (Geoffery Arend), the shaggy-haired lead singer, is more complicated due to Sarah's colossal commitment issues.

An aspiring artist who runs a bookstore, Sarah enjoys the freedom of being single and isn't quite ready to settle down. Consequently, she literally runs for the exits when Andrew unexpectedly pops the question during one of the band's loud, alcohol-soaked gigs. Lucky for her, she finds a replacement suitor in the quiet and fawning Jonathan (Mark Webber), a shy divorcee who, having had enough heartache, is now conveniently set against marriage.

Friction develops between the sisters when Sarah’s zigzagging lifestyle clashes with Beth’s more straight and narrow path. Andrew grows uneasy with the familial discord and tension develops between him and Beth, possibly exposing fissures in their own relationship. Meanwhile, at Beth’s bridal shower, Sarah is jarred by the news that their parents are planning to be separated.

Other serious complications emerge—such as when Sarah discovers she’s pregnant—but Mohan’s light touch, faith in the audience and belief in the characters combine to keep the material from sliding off into overwrought melodrama. And even though some of the actors have television backgrounds (Brie is part of NBC’s “Community”), the filmmakers resist the temptation to pile on silly sitcom clichés. The result is some very genuine, believable performances, especially from the wide-eyed and beautiful Caplan.

Without all the fireworks of mainstream cinema, “Save the Date” is an honest, relevant glimpse at the fear of commitment in contemporary relationships.