[Tribeca ’21] ‘Mark, Mary, & Some Other People’ review: A fresh take on modern love

A coming of age story can happen at any stage in life. Mary and Mark are two young adults that meet and fall in love after college. Mark is a dog walker and Mary is a sexy maid. After a year of sex and fun, they decide to get married. Fears of monogamy invade the happiness of a couple who venture into the world of an open marriage in Mark, Mary, & Some Other People. 

Hannah Marks writes and directs this film about two quirky characters whose first meeting is cute in a way that becomes perfect for the characters.  Mark spends a good deal of time trying to get Mary to remember him from college and the humor is instantly odd and inviting. Marks, whose previous writing credits include Banana Split, a romantic comedy about finding a true partner. Marks has a distinctive voice and sense of humor which is also evident in Mark, Mary, & Some Other People. The story moves quickly and all the characters are charming and unique. 

Ben Rosenfield (6 Years) and Hayley Law (Riverdale) play the titular characters. Law is a free-spirited woman, in charge of her sexuality, who plays in a band. Rosenfield plays an awkward, but direct and confident in his approach to situations. They fall instantly in love and develop a deep bond while holding on to their youth and refusing to compromise their true selves. Their romantic connection and comedic timing is fantastic. While the jokes are often silly, Rosenfield and Law share a great chemistry, which also adds depth to their relationship. 

Audiences might want to prepare themselves for the shift in mood. The overall tone of the film is very light so it is a little jarring when a more somber tone and themes invade the story, but the change never detracts from the story and only adds to the growth of the characters.  Mark, Mary, & Some Other People recently played at the Tribeca Festival.

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