The Threesome (2025)

“The Threesome” stars Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruby Cruz, Jaboukie Young-White, Josh Segarra, Robert Longstreet, Arden Myrin, Kristin Slaysman, Allan McLeod, and Julia Sweeney.  Released on September 5, 2025, the film follows a man in an awkward situation when he gets two girls pregnant.

The film was directed by Chad Hartigan, who also directed “This Is Martin Bonner”, “Morris from America”, and “Little Fish”.  Every now and then, there’s nothing wrong with going out for a casual outing with someone.  You might enjoy a meal or a couple of drinks, engage in conversation, and perhaps continue the fun at each other’s homes.  However, when a third person decides to join in on the fun, things can become more intimate than expected, but it can also lead to potentially awkward situations if we’re not cautious.  This troubling scenario defines the latest romantic comedy, which explores sex as a part of everyday life, particularly focusing on a threesome and the repercussions of not being safe during such intimate encounters.  With another school year kicking off, it’s no surprise that more adult-themed content is making its way to theaters while the children are away, starting with this film.  Does it offer enough intimacy and drama to capture the aftermath of casual experiences, or will it leave us yearning for a normal date?  Let’s find out.   

The story centers on three individuals: the kind and unassuming Connor (Hauer-King), his long-time crush Olivia (Deutch), and a sweet stranger named Jenny (Cruz).  After their paths cross, they embark on a casual outing that culminates in a threesome.  Following this, Connor decides to pursue a relationship with Olivia, and they begin a plan to start a family upon learning of her pregnancy.  However, the situation takes an unexpected twist when Connor and Olivia find out that Jenny is also pregnant.  Realizing his mistake, Connor seeks to make amends by offering equal support to both Olivia and Jenny as they prepare for their new arrivals. Yet, unforeseen complications threaten to sever their bond for good.

I’ve only seen the trailer for “The Threesome” at least twice during my previous mystery movie outings.  Although the concept seemed like it could be a fun time, despite my on-and-off interest in rom-coms, I thought it might be better suited for streaming rather than a theater viewing.  I’m pretty sure you can guess what happened next based on my previous “mystery movie” experiences.  That’s right!  This week’s mystery movie once again lured me into watching a movie I had intended to possibly check out on a streaming platform.  I had been hoping for “The Long Walk”, but it turns out I’ll have to wait another week for that one.  Fortunately, my curiosity about this film led me to give it a chance.  What’s even luckier is how surprisingly enjoyable it turned out to be, which is enough to make me overlook the trickery from my local cinema.
 
With a film titled after an intimate performance, many might assume it’s just another sex comedy prioritizing risqué humor and sexual escapades.  Believe me, we've seen enough of that from Genndy Tartakovsky’s cartoon canines in “Fixed”.  While the film does involve a threesome, it’s only shown once in the first act.  What unfolds afterwards is a romance drama that delves into the consequences of unplanned pregnancy stemming from careless, unprotected sex, particularly a threesome, and the ensuing accountability one man must face for his actions.  The overall experience may vary based on audience expectations regarding its concept and tone, but from my perspective, it was surprisingly commendable for its maturity and charm.  As someone who occasionally dabbles in romantic comedies, I admit that this film, despite being in one of my least favorite genres, effectively navigated its hit-and-miss tropes to sustain my interest.  More importantly, it smartly addressed the post-intimacy issues most of us encounter in our lives.

Much of this success is attributable to the screenplay by Ethan Ogilby.  “The Threesome” marks Ogilby’s debut as a feature film writer after working on “The Simpsons”, a series that shows no signs of slowing down just yet.  I swear that show is going to keep on going even after I die.  I barely recognize Ogilby’s name in the show’s credits, but I do know that “The Simpsons” has consistently delivered moments that are both charming and mature, even in recent seasons.  My familiarity with the show somehow helped me identify some of the thematic patterns present in “The Threesome”.  While certain rom-com tropes may not be as impactful as others, I admired Ogilby’s ability to explore challenging themes and flawed characters without relying heavily on crude humor to attract an audience.  It offered a grounded reflection on one of life’s unprepared misfortunes and the characters’ struggles to navigate or atone for their mistakes, particularly Connor, who’s stuck in the middle between his crush and a stranger due to their pregnancies.  Of course, the story isn’t devoid of wit, which originated from genuine situations and charm rather than contrived sex-related gags.  At its core, “The Threesome” is a sophisticated and mature exploration of the complexities and struggles inherent in post-intimacy relationships, and a well-written one at that.

I also thought director Chad Hartigan did a decent job balancing the film’s varied tones without making them feel disjointed.  It’s a blend of romantic comedy and drama, with just a hint of spice for its threesome sequence.  Admittedly, I admired the spicy part, but I also enjoyed the sweetness and dramatic confrontations that compensated for some of its emotional shortcomings.  The only other issue that held the film back for me was its runtime, clocking in at almost two hours.  While Hartigan’s ability to inject charm, intimacy, and humor into the characters kept me from bailing out of this circumstance, I feel like it overstayed its welcome, with the pacing suggesting it could have been trimmed by about ten minutes.  Nonetheless, Hartigan ensured that the film’s tones have a healthy threesome to evoke a harmonious spice for me and its audience, demonstrating the filmmaker’s ability to capture human connection amidst life's ups and downs.

The film’s charm is further enriched by its lead actors and their performances.  Zoey Deutch delivered numerous delightful moments as Olivia, showcasing her comedic flair and emotional depth to portray a young woman confronted with an unexpected delivery.  Similarly, Ruby Cruz, who made an impressive film debut in “Bottoms” two years ago, utilized her experience from that sex comedy to add her compelling role as Jenny to her promising career.  Jonah Hauer-King was also surprisingly good as the struggling Connor, who strives to make amends with the two women.  It’s funny that I only know Hauer-King from the “Little Mermaid” remake and the recent “I Know What You Did Last Summer” sequel before this film.  That alone made his role in an original movie all the more refreshing, as “The Threesome” gave him a chance to shine in something that isn’t IP-related, and he did just that.  Among the supporting cast, the only standouts that excel in comedy were Jaboukie Young-White as Greg and Julia Sweeney as Suzanne.  Both actors generate plenty of laughter without feeling like forced comic relief, notably Sweeney for that one particular hospital scene.

Overall, “The Threesome” delivers a delightful blend of spice, humor, and warmth to make this intimate experience worth participating in.  It’s no joke that the film’s title might initially deter some audiences, given its implication that it’ll be nothing but sex jokes throughout its duration.  Fortunately, this is another scenario where a film isn’t anything like the cover suggests.  Although it features a threesome, the movie is also a smart, charming, and well-acted exploration of unplanned pregnancy that navigates smoothly through its rom-com tropes.  It may feel a bit lengthy at times, and some narrative elements might not resonate as strongly as others.  Nevertheless, its decent cast, Hartigan’s direction, and Ethan Ogilby’s screenplay ensured I was comfortable enough to embrace the love it’s giving me.  If you enjoy romantic comedies with a touch of spice and drama, I’d say this film is worth checking out.

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