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THE STORY OF US (PG-13)

Reviewed October 16, 1999 - Check out The Story of Us Website.

Studio Synopsis: Ben and Katie seemed to have it all. Two great kids, a beautiful home, a secure life... However, there was just one hitch. In the middle of the perfect white-picket fenced life, their marriage had somehow fallen apart and the moment of truth was at hand. Do they make their investment in each other after all of these years work or do they cut their losses and move on before they hurt everyone that they love? The moment of truth...the high and low...the final decision. This is the witty and touching story of two individualistic people that need to come to terms that they just might be too different after all.

Fuzzydog Review: Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer, The Story of Us is a film equally sprinkled with moments of genuine wit, unexpected humor and profound sadness.  The story of Ben and Kate, at the crossroads of their fifteen-year relationship and re-evaluating who they are (and who they were) makes for an engaging study in the ups and downs of human relationships.  It's about the good, the bad, and everything else that comes in between, told from the point of view of a couple whose days seem to be numbered.  Whether intentional or not, The Story of Us does feel like some type of follow-on to When Harry Met Sally, another "relationship film" directed by Rob Reiner.  Of course, this version is a lot more serious in tone, sometimes almost painful to watch, particularly at those moments when you see these two hurt each other so deeply.  Clearly, this is a film that has a lot to say, and with very nice performances by both Willis and Pfeiffer, it is a film that generally manages to say it well.  Don't get me wrong, this film isn't perfect, with the overzealous use of flashbacks often detracting from the film's emotional impact.  Still, it should be credited for managing to deliver its often complex messages in what turn out to be the simplest and strongest ways...what else do you make of a film that begins with the words "I'm sorry," and ends with the words "I do"...