“Ex-Husbands” is a mildly pleasant and occasionally charming dramedy that works more often than it doesn’t. Much of the credit goes to star Griffin Dunne, who keeps you engaged, delivering a great performance as Peter. He’s a dentist in the midst of separating from his wife, and his dad (who divorced his longtime wife at an old age) is dying. Peter decides to take a getaway trip to relieve some of the stress. It just happens to be to the same resort city (Tulum, Mexico) where his son Nick (played by James Norton) is having his bachelor party. Other son Mickey (Miles Heizer) is also there.
The premise might seem a little sitcomy, and the opening 10-15 minutes are a little slow and rough. But once we get to Mexico, there’s a grounded, restrained tone and plenty of smart commentary on relationships. All of that, combined with Dunne’s approach to many scenes and situations, prevent “Ex-Husbands” from entering awkward, unsuccessful territory. There are a number of moments that feel authentic — about being single, being with someone, and being on the verge of either or both.
But in the final 20 minutes, the film tries too hard to make you like it. The writing (from director Noah Pritzker) gets sloppier and we’re led to an uneven conclusion, with a solid but not incredible payoff regarding the title and the future of the main characters.
LCJ GRADE: C+
Running Time: 98 min.