Take This Waltz (2011)

Take This Waltz is the second feature from Canadian actor/director/writer Sarah Polley. The film boasts a fantastic cast which includes fellow Canucks Seth Rogen & Luke Kirby along with comedian Sarah Silverman & Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. Take This Waltz follows the familiar plotline of a love triangle which develops between a married woman, her husband, & a painter/rickshaw (?) driver.

The film begins at Fortress Louisburg in Nova Scotia where Margot, played by Michelle Williams, is conducting research for her job writing tourist brochures. It is here where she first encounters Daniel, an attractive fellow tourist (portrayed by Luke Kirby). Later, by sheer coincidence the 2 strangers end up sitting together on the plane trip back to Toronto. After the flight the twosome go on to share a cab & in yet another odd coincidence realize that they're neighbors. Now what are the chances of that? It's the kind of plot twist that seems overly contrived & stretches the imagination. 

Margot's husband, Lou, is played by funny man Seth Rogen in a semi dramatic role. At first glance the couple seem to have a loving relationship but given a closer look the spouses appear to be out of sync with each other's needs & have developed a juvenile & strangely passive aggressive way of communicating. Lou works as a cookbook writer who specializes in recipes exclusively featuring chicken. Rogen does a competent job portraying a man who's already met the girl of his dreams, married her, & now feels as if his life is set. Although he loves his wife there's an emotional barrier pulling them apart which grows wider as the movie progresses.

Luke Kirby has previously appeared in films such as Mambo Italino & The Stone Angel. His character Daniel serves as an exciting change of pace for Margot. He's a man who talks about his feelings & unlike her husband he's genuinely interested in spending time with her & participating in the activities that she enjoys doing.

One of the major problems with Take This Waltz is the casting of Margot, the lead character. As played by Michelle Williams Margot behaves more like a child rather than a grown woman. Her immaturity is evident not only in terms of her personality, but also in her attitudes & actions. This particular aspect of the young woman is further emphasized in the film during a scene in which Lou speaks to his wife using cutesy baby talk. 

The main question in Take This Waltz is why Lou & Daniel are so attracted to her. Although she's physically beautiful she lacks charisma & behaves very immaturely. Her childlike personality seems to come to the forefront during a scene in which she takes Daniel on a whimsical fair ride. This particular sequence is perhaps the best part of the film because it further illustrates how Margot prefers fantasy & excitement over real life. She yearns for an imaginary dream life rather than focusing on her relationship with Lou.

A big missed opportunity in Take This Waltz is the fact that the character of Geraldine, Lou's alcoholic sister (played by Sarah Silverman) isn't explored in more depth. Her character is vulnerable, conflicted, & tormented by the strain of her addiction & the responsibilities of being a wife & mother. Silverman is a competent actress & it seems as if viewers are only given the tip of the iceberg in terms of her story. It would've been interesting to focus more on her struggles rather than focus on an all too familiar love triangle plot. 

Despite best intentions Take This Waltz is a disappointment. A major reason for this is the miscasting of Michelle Williams. Worse still at times the film feels silly, cliched, uninspired, & just too damn long. 

Originally published on Helium.