“Objection, Your Honor! Strangling the witness!” —Freddy Bender
Today’s quick review: Intolerable Cruelty. After five years of marriage, Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones) finally has what she wants: proof that her wealthy husband Rex (Edward Herman) is cheating on her. Poised to make a fortune in the divorce, Marylin hits a roadblock when Rex hires Miles Massey (George Clooney), a suave and amoral divorce attorney who’s every bit as savvy as she is, to represent him.
Intolerable Cruelty is a romantic comedy from the Coen Brothers. George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones play opposite each other as two alluring foes: a ruthless divorce attorney and cunning wife of his client. As Miles and Marylin match wits in the courtroom, they realize that they are a perfect fit for each other romantically—if they can find a way to make it work. Subtle humor, a quirky world, and an upbeat story make the movie a fun pick.
Intolerable Cruelty taps into the same style of humor as other Coen Brothers movies. The story takes place in a world that’s just a little exaggerated, full of slick lawyers, greedy wives, and wealthy, foolish husbands. Characters like Miles and Marylin hit a sweet spot: cartoonish enough to be funny, but human enough to be relatable. Seeing two masterful manipulators fight, flirt, and fall in love gives Intolerable Cruelty plenty of appeal.
For better or for worse, Intolerable Cruelty does not go as far as other Coen Brothers movies. The plot has plenty of moving pieces, but it is simple compared to the chaos seen in films like O Brother, Where Art Thou? or Burn After Reading. The script runs on absurdity and irony, taking the bitter and acrimonious divorce process and turning it into a playful competition. The jokes are subtle, numerous, and fly by quickly.
Intolerable Cruelty does not reach the heights of the Coen Brothers’ best work, either in terms of its script or its overall vision, but it has enough of their quirky charm to be a thoroughly enjoyable watch. For the right viewer, Intolerable Cruelty will be a lighthearted romp that mixes absurdity, romance, and satire in equal measure. Skip it if you want a more overt comedy or you dislike the Coen Brothers’ style.
For a more subdued George Clooney movie that explores a similarly superficial character, check out Up in the Air. For a Coen Brothers movie with some of the same tone to it, try Burn After Reading or Hail, Caesar!. For a raunchier comedy about divorce attorneys finding love, try Wedding Crashers.
[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138524/). I give it a 7.0 for clever humor and a fun story.