When it comes to sexual fantasies, a threesome is one of the most recognizable and possibly sought-after. I mean nothing bad could possibly stem from something like that, especially when feelings are involved… right? Connor (Jonah Hauer-King) is about to find out how wrong that is in The Threesome.
Connor has been chasing his crush Olivia (Zoey Deutch) for longer than he’d like to admit. Of course his best friend Greg (Jaboukie Young-White) finds pleasure in bringing it up all the time, but that won dissuade Connor. Olivia and he had that one magical, albeit drunken, night and if he plays his cards right, there may be many more to come.
Enter Jenny (Ruby Cruz). The lonely girl at the bar Olivia works at that Connor starts hitting on. Sprinkle in a bit of Olivia’s jealousy and a lot of alcohol and the night takes an unexpected turn. The three find themselves at Connor’s place and, following Olivia’s lead, have a threesome. Somehow that springboards Connor and Olivia into the relationship he’s been hoping for. That is until Jenny shows back up weeks later and flips their world upside down.
Chad Harrington directed the film while Ethan Ogilby wrote the script. While Harrington has several projects under his belt, The Threesome is Ogilby’s debut. Harrington is certainly familiar with the genre. Several of his past films deal with aspects of romance, both through a comedic and dramatic lens. The Threesome is no different, mixing these elements throughout.
Harrington typically has a hand in the script, having solely wrote or co-wrote most of the projects he has worked on. Ogilby rises to the challenge and produces an entertaining script that is oozing with drama. Every time something seems to go right, new roadblocks emerge. There is a healthy dose of comedy throughout to help lighten the mood and situations the characters find themselves in. Ogilby nails some truly funny lines and moments that the cast execute perfectly. Harrington mixes in a handful of interesting shots and angles that help highlight the emotions of the scenes.
The film progresses smoothly with chapters helping guide the narrative. As the film unwinds, it begins to push the limits of believability. At times, certain moments become simply too outlandish testing the atmosphere and realism of the film. The entire premise of the film some may find difficult to relate to, but mix in some eye-rolling moments and that only hurts the cause. The Threesome definitely has plenty going for it, but it is ultimately held back by these instances. That being said, it is still an enjoyable film, featuring a solid script and performances throughout, and is worth a watch.
The Threesome is open in theaters now via Vertical.
