The Swearing Jar

To reveal much more than that about the narrative of The Swearing Jar would undercut the beguiling rhythms and clever reveals with which MacKay and Hewlett imbue their story. Frankly, they and their film deserve some discretion; this is the rare movie romance that really benefits from knowing as little going in as possible.

What is worth discussing, though, is just how effectively the filmmakers handle what is, on many levels, a real balancing act of juggling tones and maintaining audience sympathy. MacKay’s direction is light and graceful, mostly steering away from outright melodrama and allowing scenes to ebb and flow from gentle laughs to introspective seriousness and back again. Clemens is a perfectly chosen lead, empathetic and radiantly likable even in Carey’s most uncertain moments. Her light touch is a nice complement to MacKay’s.

“Clemens is a perfectly chosen lead…”

Ditto for her male counterparts, as Adams and Smith both manage to make their very different characters’ idiosyncrasies feel believable and lived-in rather than cartoonish. The Swearing Jar even finds room for a bit of old-school star power; Kathleen Turner shows up early on as Carey’s outspoken mother-in-law, and what looks to be only a diverting cameo eventually blooms into a substantial supporting role.

Though Carey’s onstage musical performances punctuate the film, the filmmaker is wise not to let the songs (all written by Hewlett) do too much of the emotional heavy lifting. They’re pleasant enough, if not exactly unforgettable, and it’s impressive that Clemens and Douglas do their own singing, but they’re there to embellish the story a bit rather than to tell it. Audiences might be more likely put off by some sitcom-esque banter that threatens to push a few otherwise well-observed scenes toward the grating and cutesy. And, as for the swear jar that gives the film its title, it’s a decent metaphor for Carey and Simon’s foibles and aspirations, but its thematic importance could probably have been better established and justified. At least the cursing is good for a few extra giggles along the way.

Considering everything that MacKay and Hewlett attempt and successfully pull off, the minor imperfections of The Swearing Jar are particularly easy to overlook. So many cinematic romances, both comedic and dramatic, can feel formulaic even when their narrative beats and the chemistry between characters work as they’re supposed to. This is something more complicated and, because of that, more fulfilling, and its leads definitely don’t lack for chemistry. Audiences who find it will presumably be as pleasingly taken aback by the entire film as they are by the cheerful vulgarity that kicks it all off.

The Swearing Jar screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.