Two married couples rifle through each other's emotional baggage (and drawers) in We Don't Live Here Anymore. Adapting two short stories by Andre Dubus, director John Curran brings us the kind of relationship drama that dissects the human condition but fails to find a heart. Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern, Peter Krause and Naomi Watts deliver fine performances and Larry Gross' script is peppered with keen observations, but in the end, its unyielding grittiness doesn't ring true.

While claiming to handle adult themes, there's something annoyingly childish in all corners of this romantic quadrangle. Krause portrays Hank, a failed novelist on a narcissistic mission to "love everybody" he can - including Dern's Terry, the wife of his best friend. Meanwhile Terry's throwing tantrums because she suspects hubbie Jack (Ruffalo) of playing away with Hank's missus Edith (Watts). Of course she's spot on, because as Curran endeavours to show, the worst of humanity is the essence of humanity.

"WHOLLY UNCONVINCING"

Even when Jack tries to be noble, there's an oppressively depressing air about it. Love is painted as a game, a cruel trick and ultimately a cage. Overall there's a sense that the more ugly the situation gets, the more real it is. Actually it's this unrelenting cynicism that renders the story so utterly disingenuous. Yes, the actors do an admirable job of gnashing their teeth and screenwriter Gross throws in some spiky dialogue, but the notion that these people were ever actually in love is wholly unconvincing. Like them, Curran's film is dishonest, petty and small-minded.