Together Together
Together Together is a 2021 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Nikole Beckwith.[1][2] It stars Ed Helms as Matt, a single man in his forties seeking parenthood, and Patti Harrison as Anna, a young woman hired as his gestational surrogate.[1][2] The plot follows the pair's developing platonic friendship as Anna carries Matt's child, navigating societal judgments, personal boundaries, and emotional complexities inherent to surrogacy arrangements.[1][3] Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021, the film explores themes of unconventional family formation and human connection without romantic entanglement, earning praise for its authentic character dynamics and avoidance of clichéd resolutions.[4][5] It holds a 90% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 155 reviews, highlighting its fresh take on parenthood amid modern reproductive choices.[5] Distributed by Bleecker Street, Together Together received a limited theatrical release in the United States on April 23, 2021, followed by streaming availability.[1]Production
Development
Nikole Beckwith conceived the screenplay for Together Together after the 2015 release of her debut feature Stockholm, Pennsylvania, drawing inspiration from a conversation with a friend named Matt about the concept of a "male biological clock" and the desire for single men to pursue fatherhood via surrogacy.[6] This led to an original story challenging traditional gender stereotypes in family-building narratives, emphasizing platonic relationships and mutual emotional growth between the characters rather than romantic tropes.[6] Beckwith, a former playwright whose prior work included surrogacy themes, further shaped the script to reflect authentic exchanges, informed by personal reflections on identity and family dynamics.[7] [8] Beckwith refined the screenplay during a San Francisco Film Society fellowship focused on women filmmakers working in genre, submitting it initially as a comedy influenced by Nora Ephron-style rom-com structures but subverting expectations by omitting romance.[7] [9] Producer Anthony Brandonisio partnered with Beckwith to secure financing, overcoming industry skepticism—such as demands for a romantic resolution—through persistence as audience interest in non-traditional narratives grew.[7] Pre-production involved collaborative script workshops with lead actors Ed Helms and Patti Harrison to hone dialogue and character subtleties, ensuring the 17-day principal photography in 2019 aligned with the film's grounded tone.[6]Casting
Nikole Beckwith cast Ed Helms as Matt, the app developer and single prospective father, for his comedic precision and capacity to deliver nuanced, vulnerable performances amid the film's emotional depth.[6] Script adjustments were made post-casting to align with Helms' natural delivery style, reflecting a collaborative approach tailored to his strengths during the limited 17-day production schedule.[6] Patti Harrison was selected for the role of Anna, the college dropout and gestational surrogate, owing to her inherent magnetism, candid openness in discussions with Beckwith, and ability to subtly convey the character's wry internal conflicts and duality.[6] Beckwith prioritized actors who could navigate the script's blend of humor and pathos, describing the ideal performers as comedians adept at "between-the-joke moments" that evoke underlying sadness and human complexity without overt dramatics.[8] Supporting roles included Rosalind Chao as Dr. Andrews, the obstetrician, chosen for her reassuring on-set presence and prior collaboration with Beckwith on the 2015 film Stockholm, Pennsylvania, with the character's name serving as a subtle nod to that project.[6] Other ensemble members, such as Tig Notaro as Matt's sister and Julio Torres in a smaller part, aligned with Beckwith's vision for performers capable of understated authenticity in interpersonal dynamics.[10] The principal leads were publicly announced alongside Bleecker Street's acquisition of North American distribution rights on December 16, 2020, prior to the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2021.[11]Filming
Principal photography for Together Together occurred primarily in Los Angeles, California, over a period of 17 days.[12][13] Director Nikole Beckwith noted that filming in Los Angeles facilitated access to local actors for supporting roles, enhancing the production's efficiency.[14] Exterior shots were captured subsequently in San Francisco over one and a half days to represent key outdoor scenes.[12][13][15] The schedule's brevity reflected the independent production's constraints, prioritizing character-driven scenes between leads Ed Helms and Patti Harrison amid the surrogacy narrative.[12]Plot
Together Together follows Matt, a successful but single man in his forties who decides to become a father through gestational surrogacy.[16] He hires Anna, a twenty-something loner and former college student working as a barista, to carry his child.[5] Their initial business arrangement requires regular interactions during prenatal appointments, ultrasounds, and other pregnancy milestones, gradually fostering an unlikely friendship.[17] As the pregnancy progresses, Matt and Anna confront personal insecurities, family dynamics, and societal expectations surrounding non-traditional parenthood.[18] Matt, who hosts a podcast on work-life balance, envisions a structured family life, while Anna grapples with her own relational boundaries and past experiences.[19] The evolving bond between them challenges conventional notions of intimacy and attachment, leading to humorous and poignant moments that test the limits of their platonic connection.[20]Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Ed Helms | Matt |
| Patti Harrison | Anna |
| Rosalind Chao | Dr. Andrews |
| Timm Sharp | Jacob |
| Anna Konkle | Shayleen |
| Tig Notaro | Madeline |
| Julio Torres | Jules |