Two for the Road (1967)

Director: Stanley Donen
Stars:  Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney
Plot:  We follow the rocky, 12 year marriage of Mark and Joanna Wallace through their various trips to the French countryside
Plus: Direction, Photography, Rural France, Hepburn
Minus:  Albert Finney, “Comedy” relief, Too cutesy at times

Background
Despite what you may have read, Two for the Road is NOT a “realistic look at a troubled marriage”.  70% of the movie is pure Rom-Com with romance, cutesy scenes and supporting actor comedy..  Only about 30% is somewhat serious, with Finney and Hepburn fighting, discussing divorce, and having affairs.  Although the mish-mash of Rom-Com and Drama is often jarring, the serious scenes cut down on the sugar and make the film better.  But it’s not Hepburn’s version of “Scenes from a Marriage”.

Today, Two for the Road is considered a “Cult Classic” and the critics are almost unanimous in their praise.  Quite a change from 1967, when the film gathered mixed reviews (Kael and NYT both disliked it) and a disappointing box office.   Audiences found the bickering and extramarital affairs unattractive and the non-sequential plot confusing.

Evaluation 
My review is also mixed.  On the positive side, Audrey is her usual cute self and looks great.  Donen keeps the plot and camera moving with endless quick cuts, flash-forwards and flash-backs.  And the same is true of the actors. Donen believed film was movement, and Hepburn & Finney are constantly in motion. There’s a lot of talk, but its talk accompanied by action. The actors talk while driving, while eating, while fixing the car, while flying, while swimming, etc.  And through it all we get wonderful shots of the French Countryside.

But Albert Finney is a major problem.  His character – as written – is a lout and requires a likable actor (Cary Grant, a Young Bill Holden) to take the edge off - which Finney doesn’t do.  He turns in a charmless performance, and often looks beefy and gross, instead of handsome.  His comic skills are minimal.  Finney's miscasting is a big problem, since he and Hepburn are in 95% of the movie & speak 80% of the dialogue. Donen would later blame Finney’s charmless performance for the film’s relative failure.  But Donen’s first choice was Paul Newman, an actor with no Rom-Com ability.  Maybe Donen simply didn’t understand what the part required.

Finally, the “wacky neighbors” played by Eleanor Bron and William Daniels, are terrible.  On-screen for about 15-20 minutes they are intended to be satirical and funny, but aren’t.  And the kid actor was unbearable.