Watch Two for the Road

Two for the Road is a romantic comedy-drama released in 1967, directed by Stanley Donen and starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney as a couple on a rocky journey through their relationship. The film follows their adventures throughout Europe as they go through the ups and downs of their marriage, reflecting on their past as they face the reality of their present.

The movie is divided into several vignettes, each one representing a different stage of their relationship. The narrative is non-linear, jumping back and forth between different points in time, providing a collage of their life together. The first time we see them, they are driving through the French countryside, bickering and sniping at each other. But as we witness their past relationships, we understand the deeper reasons for their frustration.

Their first meeting occurred while traveling to the South of France, and from there, the film takes the viewer on a journey through their marriage - from their early days as a young, carefree couple, to the struggles they faced as their relationship evolved. They reminisce about the past as they travel through the different stages of their relationship. We see them embarking on a romantic adventure throughout Europe and Corsica, side by side in their convertible, with their tunes and cigarettes, and eventually reaching the critical points where they start to realize that the something they had is slipping away.

Hepburn and Finney have great chemistry together, and their performances in this film are both nuanced and natural. Hepburn’s character, Joanna, is the lively wife who is struggling to find her own voice in their relationship. Finney’s character, Mark, is the successful businessman who finds himself at a crossroads in his professional and personal life. Together, they bring a raw and subtle energy to their roles, reflecting the intricacies and complexities of two people trying to make a marriage work.

The film is notable for its innovative use of film techniques. The non-linear narrative is interwoven with the innovative use of creative editing, sound, and music. The film’s disjointed structure consciously adds to the reality of life, which is messy, nonlinear, and sometimes out of order. The use of creative camera angles, jump cuts, and flashbacks adds an almost dream-like quality to the film. The use of split-screen scenes is particularly effective at showing the different viewpoints of the couple, especially when they disagree or are in conflict with one another.

The cinematography is outstanding, capturing picturesque European landscapes and featuring bright pops of color throughout the film. The fashion styling of Audrey Hepburn was noteworthy, with many scenes featuring her in designer clothing, which adds to the film's glamour and aesthetic appeal. The score of the movie is particularly memorable, with compositions from Henry Mancini, who provides a jazzy and upbeat soundtrack to the film's unpredictable journey.

Two for the Road deals with the struggles and challenges of modern marriage and is a film ahead of its time. It showcases the difficulty of relationships: sometimes messy, and sometimes confusing. The movie ultimately delivers a positive and impactful message, reflecting on the unpredictability and changing nature of relationships. It does so with charm, wit, and insight while delivering one of the most bittersweet endings seen in cinema.

In conclusion, Two for the Road is a timeless romantic comedy-drama with a complexity and nuance in its depiction of marriage, relationships, and the ups and downs of life. It is a film that resonates with anyone who has ever been in a relationship and the joys and difficulties they face. The film features great performances by Hepburn and Finney, stunning cinematography, and an unforgettable soundtrack making it an enduring classic.

Two for the Road is a 1967 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 78.