As her world expands, Emily finds herself unexpectedly in a romance with both a man and a woman who are also dating each other. As this is her first polyamorous relationship, she explores ever deeper layers and textures of life in this dynamic. There are misunderstandings and complexities she must navigate in this unfamiliar context. The opening scene of the film cleverly foreshadows her future relationship.
Mentioning before that this rom-com is unconventional is correct, but it shouldn’t be, and it’s not as unusual as it once would have been. Though polyamory has been around as long as humans have, the idea is becoming less fringe and more mainstream as LGBTQ acceptance is helping bring the culture to a more civilized state. In ten years, a review of a film that includes BDSM, polyamory, and LGBTQ life will not need to call them out for special note.
In her director’s statement, Madalinski discusses her motivations. “This film is for the queer community, for the sex worker community, and for the polyamorous and non-monogamous communities because we need and deserve love stories.“
“…for the queer community, for the sex worker community, and for the polyamorous and non-monogamous communities…”
This film hits all the notes a solid romantic comedy should, with different situations than we typically see. There’s humor around odd BDSM clients and the joys of cleaning dildos, as well as the aforementioned mixed bag of internet dating. The title is fun wordplay, but the film isn’t porn, so we can’t confirm the veracity of the double entendre. Emily’s adventures lead her to make her first documentary, which winds up being about the people in her new life.
2 in the Bush: A Love Story is delightfully enjoyed as the light fare that it is while presenting some ideas that need to be considered simply normal variations on life and love.
"…a delightfully unconventional rom-com..."
