Sleeping with Other People is a 2015 romantic comedy film directed and written by Leslye Headland.
The film stars Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Natasha Lyonne, Amanda Peet, Jason Mantzoukas, Andrea Savage, Katherine Waterston, and Adam Scott. Premiering at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015, the film was released theatrically on September 11, 2015, by IFC Films. "Sleeping with Other People" received generally positive reviews from critics.
In 2002, Lainey (Brie) causes a scene in a dorm at Columbia University. Taking pity on her as she is about to be kicked out by security, Jake (Sudeikis) claims her as his guest. He learns that Lainey was there in order to lose her virginity to her T.A., Matthew, who Jake thinks is the most boring guy in the world. Lainey eventually realizes that Jake is also a virgin, and the two lose their virginity to each other. Twelve years later, they have both developed extremely toxic sex lives. Jake cannot commit to any relationship and usually sabotages it by cheating, while Lainey has had a series of failed relationships while carrying on an affair with Matthew (Scott). At a support group for sex-addicts, they run into each other and decide to try to maintain a platonic relationship despite their mutual attraction.
Tropes in this film include:
- Beauty Inversion: As Dr. Matthew Sobvechik, Adam Scott plays down his usual nerdy good-looks and charm to be quiet and nebbish. Lainey still finds him irresistible.
- Entitled to Have You: A little bit of jealousy with this from Jake when Lainey tells him that she and another man used a sexual trick Jake taught her earlier.
- Everyone Can See It: Xander and Naomi spend a lot of time discussing how much Lainey and Jake are clearly in love.
- Gay Best Friend: Kara (Lyonne) is shown to have a girlfriend in one scene; but Kara's main purpose in the film is to drive Lainey's entire romantic/sexual life.
- Like Parent, Like Spouse: When Lainey is called into Matthew's office as "Elaine", she mentions to the person that only her dad calls her "Elaine"; yet, only seconds later, Matthew immediately calls her "Elaine" about 30 seconds before they have sex in his exam room/office.
- My Girl Is a Slut: Xander has absolutely no issue with the fact that Naomi had a lot of sex before they get married.
- Sleeps with Everyone but You: For both Jake and Lainey, they make a pact to keep one another in their lives by not sleeping with each other, since they agree that their tendencies are toward ruining relationships with those they've slept with.
- Wrong-Name Outburst: Jake does this twice while with Paula. First, he says "Lainey" when he is orgasming/coming down from the orgasm after having sex with Paula for the first time (she asks who Lainey is and actually seems cool with it). Then, when Jake punches Matthew while on a date with Paula - to avenge on Lainey's behalf - Jake exclaims that the punch was for "my girl" (Paula rightfully isn't so open-minded this time).
