Jason Segel and Emily Blunt share some classic rom-com chemistry in Nicholas ... - New York Daily News

Jason Segel and Emily Blunt keep getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle in “The Five-Year Engagement.”

The next time you despair over the conveyor belt that seems to dump an endless supply of forgettable fodder into your local cineplex, it’s worth keeping Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller in mind. Their efforts may not be seamless, but these two are unusually committed to creating some of the sharpest comedies coming out of Hollywood right now.

“The Five-Year Engagement,” which was written by both men and directed by Stoller, lacks the go-for-broke zaniness of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” or “Get Him to the Greek.” But it aims for something deeper. There’s a newfound maturity here â€" even if it is buried under needlessly extended bodily humiliations (this seems as good a place as any to mention that Judd Apatow produced).

Segel is also growing as an actor, though he retains the goofy, easygoing persona we’ve seen in most of his projects (including “The Muppets,” which he and Stoller wrote as well).

As San Francisco chef Tom Solomon, he’s an impossibly decent guy, and it’s easy to see why the equally charming Violet (Emily Blunt) would fall in love with him. They get engaged on their first anniversary, which some friends and family members (Jacki Weaver, Alison Brie, Chris Pratt) worry is too soon.

But when Violet gets accepted into the University of Michigan’s psychology department (led by a smooth Rhys Ifans), their plans are put on hold. This change is easier on Violet than Tom, who helplessly watches his career and identity slip away.

If you’re not too busy laughing at Tom’s efforts to ferment his own mead, you might notice how comfortable Segel and Stoller have become in exploring contemporary relationships. While they relied on broader strokes in their earlier films, these characters remain relatable in even the most preposterous scenarios.

Blunt has never been more relaxed, and she and Segel have a believably warm chemistry. It’s also nice to find a romantic comedy with so much respect for both its leads: there are no heroes or villains here, just funny, likable characters figuring out modern life together.

The film’s biggest flaw â€" and one familiar to Apatow fans â€" is its painfully indulgent running time. We feel every minute of those five years, and that’s a shame. Tighter editing and a quicker pace would have made all the difference; too many scenes seem wholly unnecessary. But as Violet and Tom eventually discover, nothing is ever perfect. Sometimes, “close enough” is worth celebrating, too.

Magic Moment: Tom and Violet both have the opportunity to propose, and each does it adorably.