Review of The Seven Year Hitch

Spoilers ahead. First of all, I really do like this movie. I've seen it a few times and always enjoy it, despite a few frustrating script problems. I'll get to those in just a minute. Kevin is played by Darin Brooks and he is perfect for the part. Most of the laughs come courtesy of him. Jennifer is played by Natalie Hall. She does a nice job and I don't take issue with her as an actress. However, I do take issue with her character Jennifer, as the part is written in the script. Kevin and Jennifer have been best friends since age 6. They went to college together and while Jennifer graduated, Kevin did not. He can't stay in the dorms any longer. Jennifer takes him in until he gets on his feet. Seven years later, he's still staying with Jennifer, living a carefree life of no responsibility. He doesn't even pay rent. Along comes Bryce, Jennifer's boyfriend of 6 months. He proposes to Jennifer. She says yes and he gives her a ring which he claims is his grandmothers. Kevin is not pleased with the engagement. He thinks she hasn't known him long enough and he doesn't even know her favorite color. Jennifer tells Kevin that he needs to move out because once she marries Bryce, he will be living with her. Then things get interesting. Kevin catches Bryce cheating on Jennifer. Kevin feels it's his duty as her best friend to keep her from marrying Bryce. Bryce wants Kevin kicked to the curb, calling him a parasite. Kevin's brother Jeremy is a lawyer and he tells him about common law marriages. If Jennifer and Kevin have lived together for 7 years and meet certain conditions, they are seen as husband and wife in the eyes of the law. They meet the conditions. Kevin has now blocked Bryce from marrying her. Both Jennifer and Bryce are not pleased with the situation. Jennifer decides she's going to get Kevin to throw in the towel on this common law thing. She'll do this by giving him the responsibilities of a husband. She doesn't think Kevin will step up to the plate. To her surprise, he completes all the tasks she asked him to do and then he goes above and beyond by building the gazebo she's always wanted in the backyard. Jennifer throws everything at him but the kitchen sink but Kevin is up to the challenge. Meanwhile, Bryce continues to cheat on Jennifer with various women. Throughout this movie, he's a real jerk toward her and walks all over Jennifer at every turn. Jennifer continues to try and please Bryce. She basically asks for more abuse by practically groveling at his feet. He must have some sort of superpower. Jennifer is always apologizing to Bryce anytime she thinks he is disappointed in her. By this point, Kevin has transformed into a responsible and productive person. He's also fallen in love with Jennifer. Kevin tells Jennifer how he feels. She basically tells Kevin that they are just friends and she is supposed to be with Bryce. He is obviously hurt. Kevin decides to sign papers to end the common law marriage. He won't stand in her way if she really wants to marry Bryce. Jennifer takes off the friendship ring Kevin gave her to remove one of the conditions that's required in a common law marriage. Kevin leaves with Jeremy. He will be living with his brother now. Jennifer continues to barrel towards her wedding day. It's full steam ahead with no thought of Kevin. Now we arrive at one day before the wedding. At the rehearsal, Bryce lets it slip that her engagement ring was the biggest rock at the jewelers. Jennifer then reminds him that he told her it was his grandmothers. He seems to have forgotten about it. She is not happy that he lied to her. At the rehearsal dinner she realizes that she doesn't know anyone there. They are all Bryce's business associates. She seems weary of these recent developments and decides to test out the whole "he doesn't even know your favorite color" thing. She asks Bryce what it is and he doesn't know. She tells him it's green. She is lost in thought for a few moments and says sorry before chucking the engagement ring into his wine glass. Jennifer then tells her friend that she is going to do something she should have done ages ago. She takes off and goes to Jeremy's house to find Kevin. Jeremy tells her he's going back to school and he's at the bus station. She gets the impression that he's leaving town. She sees a bus leaving the station and thinks he's on it. She starts walking away, but spots Kevin near the bus station. Here's where I have a problem. She starts walking toward him and stops about 50 feet short. He now has to walk the 50 feet if he wants to talk to her. Can you see where I'm going with this? Kevin was not treated very well. She pushed aside her lifelong friend so she could marry a jerk. So she shows up at the bus station and makes him walk to her. Not cool. She should have done all the walking if she had something to say to him. The only apology he gets is about the "tasks" she made him do. I'm sorry but that's enough for me. Kevin let's her off the hook. She even asks him why he didn't say goodbye if he was leaving for school. What? She basically ditched him, so why does he have to seek her out and tell her anything? Anyway, she tells him that he makes her happy, she kisses him and says "I love you" and all is forgiven. The final problem I have is when she says "sorry" while she removes her engagement ring. The way she says sorry is way too nice. This guy was horrible to Jennifer. Don't say sorry. Either tell him off or don't say anything. So back at the bus station, we find out that Kevin is not leaving town. He's going to a local school. The last scene is when they get married. I have to admit, despite the script problems, I still feel happy to see them together in the end. How can I enjoy the film after trashing the script? Good question. There is still a lot to like here. Darin Brooks makes this film work. He has good chemistry with Natalie Hall. There are just enough comical moments to keep you smiling or laughing. There are some sweet moments too. After seeing this a few times it becomes something like comfort food. I still recommend it. After all I'm giving it 8/10.