Maybe I Do Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Maybe I Do Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 20, 2023

Marital blues and relationship concerns are the focus of “Maybe I Do,” which examines communication struggles between people trying to figure out what they want from life and love. Writer/director Michael Jacobs touches on universal feelings of uncertainty and fatigue, offering a dramedy that concentrates on the inner lives of characters and their stunted ways of self-expression. To help the cause, Jacobs has brought in a capable cast willing to explore the itchiness of such doubt, with leads Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, and Diane Keaton offering committed performances to help Jacobs reach his larger points about the demands of trust. “Maybe I Do” is frequently supported by thespian strength, as Jacobs gets a little too windy with his dialogue exchanges, losing pace as he tries to make something meaningful while the natural flow of the material leads to a potentially farcical conclusion.

Howard (Richard Gere) and Monica (Susan Sarandon) have booked a hotel room, getting together for a sexual adventure the man isn’t committed to. Howard has lost interest in their affair, which enrages Monica, who’s happy with their new routine and bedroom possibilities. Grace (Diane Keaton) spies Sam (William H. Macy) having a breakdown inside a movie theater, making a connection to the emotionally fried man, with the pair recognizing their chemistry, spending the evening with each other as they confront the possibility of sex. Michelle (Emma Roberts) is an excited bridesmaid, ready to catch the bouquet and inspire wedded bliss with her longtime boyfriend, Allen (Luke Bracey). Trouble is, Allen isn’t ready for such a commitment, sabotaging the moment, which generates tension in the relationship as their future together becomes cloudy. While stress and excitement is found during these nighttime adventures, the day brings new light to these confused people, with Howard returning to his wife, Grace, visited by their daughter, Michelle, while Sam goes home to his spouse, Monica, handling concerns from his son, Allen.

Jacobs is a television veteran, working on such shows as “My Two Dads,” “Boy Meets World,” and “Dinosaurs,” and he retains interest in sitcom-ish plotting with “Maybe I Do.” He scripts a collision course for the characters, who are introduced on separate adventures, offered time to express their dissatisfactions and disappointments, with Sam the most emotional. While watching a depressing European film, he has a breakdown, inspiring Grace to make contact with the teary stranger, with the pair hitting it off as they trade woes. Howard and Monica have a more bitter engagement, with the woman hoping to seduce her lover, only to have her advances ignored, inspiring a difficult conversation about aging. “Maybe I Do” launches with confidence, with Jacobs creating two distinct experiences for the couples, who use their time together to identify some emotional roadblocks, including Grace’s religious hypersensitivity to sin.

Allen and Michelle are also involved in the mess, with the boyfriend’s aversion to marriage threatening their future together. This conflict triggers speeches about commitment and fear, and loquaciousness extends to everyone in “Maybe I Do,” with Jacobs filling the run time with debates on faithfulness and mortality, also getting into the philosophy of marriage and what it offers the characters as they advance in age. The writing gets carried away at times, becoming more of a theatrical experience than a cinematic one, but Jacobs has some interesting ideas on the ways of desires and anxiety, dissecting the nature of love as unions threaten to crumble. Once the players all return to their homes, “Maybe I Do” becomes a slightly different movie, exposing the reality of domestic life, which includes routine that’s become a prison for some.

Maybe I Do Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There's a slight softness to the AVC encoded image (2.00:1 aspect ratio) presentation at times, which is to be expected when dealing with an older cast and inevitable glamour demands. Detail does remain, exploring the various ages of the ensemble, capturing natural wear and tear on the actors and their makeup requirements. Costuming is fibrous, with softer formal attire and sweaters. Interiors are open for exploration, visiting living spaces and social gatherings, which carry a lot of decorative additions. Exteriors handle decent depth. Colors are sharp, offering excellent primaries on signage and certain outfits, including wedding party dresses and eveningwear. Brighter living spaces bring out domestic hues, and warmer lighting is appreciable, preserving intimate interactions. Stronger seasonal imagery near the end of the feature is also distinct. Delineation is satisfactory, with most of the feature taking place at night. Compression issues are mild and infrequent.

Maybe I Do Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix leads with dialogue exchanges, reflecting the theatrical nature of the production. Performances are sharp, preserving intelligibility throughout the feature. Music is also clear, handling different moods with some jazzy scoring and celebratory tunes that provide some slight low-end response (this is not a movie built for big bass). Surrounds generally work with musical offerings, and atmospherics are acceptable, best with community gatherings and party movement.

Maybe I Do Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this release.

Maybe I Do Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A dinner party takes over the last act of "Maybe I Do," with Jacobs promising a more comedic direction for the endeavor as everyone gathers, positioned for a climatic rodeo of exposed unions and charged confrontations, especially with Monica, who's happy to destroy Howard after his rejection of her. However, laughs never come, as Jacobs maintains a somewhat mournful understanding of emotional unraveling, attempting to remain sincere with these conflicts (including terror that age turns married couples into "potatoes"), which leads to a sluggish and somewhat repetitive conclusion. Jacobs can't stick the landing, but he gets most of the way there with his understanding of self-esteem issues, which gives the cast something to play as they inhabit troubled people. And they do so with engaged performances and a willingness to explore the awkwardness and psychological unrest of the story.