It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows, which is weird considering just how polarising different ideological beliefs can be. On the other hand, we have seen co-hosts with conflicting politics who became married. Maybe love can survive constant political debates, but what if these divides run deep into the personality? Can love be saved then? Drawing on the differing perspectives of how they got together, Directors Ken Kwapis and Marisa Silver set out to answer these questions, in a case of He Said, She Said.

Lorie Bryer and Dan Hanson couldn’t be further apart, sure they both columnist in the Baltimore Sun, but Dan is a womanising conservative and Lorie is a liberal, art-loving feminist, their constant fighting in their opinion columns is a regular occurrence.  It turns out that their constant arguing has captured the public by storm, and has landed them a hit broadcast TV show, called He Said, She Said, where they debate the issues of the day.  Dan starts developing feelings for Lorie and vice versa. But could this be love? And if it is love… can they keep their personalities from ruining it?

The premise of this film rests on the chemistry between Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth Perkins perform well in their scenes, but they are not alone in this tale, He Said, She Said utilises its supporting players with a tremendous effect. The themes and story are augmented by an appearance by Nathan Lane as the duo’s hard-suffering boss. Dan also receives constant relationship advise from Mr and Mrs. Spepk, elderly neighbours of the new couple, as the duo provide humorous and charming observations on the success of long-lasting relationships. You can also spot a young Ashley Gardner, who will go on to voice Nancy Gribble in King Of The Hill.

The film utilises this unusual narrative device, of cutting between the past and present of these two lovebirds’ relationship, it’s pretty daring for a rom-com of the era. But that’s not the film’s only daring in its narrative, it takes an almost satirical look at society at the time and mines it for comedic discussion. Then taboo topics of relationships, art, the opposites of men and women, politics are all commented on, and some of those observations still ring true today.

He Said, She Said, is a schmaltzy romantic film, but with a lot of well-observed charm manages to provide some provoking food for thought about men, women, love and war. With a good cast and some unique ideas, you’ll won’t care who said it, but you’ll be glad they did.

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