Nice and Raunchy

Judd Apatow's formulaic comedies include The 40 Year Virgin and Knocked Up. The latter is perhaps the best of the bunch, combining all-out grossness with a basically sweet story and Paul Rudd stealing the show in a supporting role. Now we have Jason Siegal and Emily Blunt as two mismatched lovers who must constantly postpone their wedding date because of career and personal choices. Both actors are delightful, especially Blunt, who shows considerable range in both her comic scenes and in the dramatic crises. The problem is that the writers cannot resist jokes that often fall flat or, even worse, get dirty in a frat house way. The 5 Year Engagement could have been a sweet but salty comic romance, but the boys in charge can't get out of the potty.