''Seeing Other People'' is a 2004 American

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Wallace Wolodarsky Wallace Wolodarsky, also billed as Wally Wolodarsky, is an American screenwriter, television producer, film director, and actor known for being one of the writers for ''The Simpsons'' during the first four seasons with his writing partner Jay ...

, who co-wrote the screenplay with

Maya Forbes Maya Forbes (born July 23, 1968) is an American screenwriter and television producer. She made her debut as a film director with ''Infinitely Polar Bear'' (2014). Her other writing credits include the screenplay of ''The Rocker (film), The Rocker' ...

. The film stars

Jay Mohr Jon Ferguson "Jay" Mohr (born August 23, 1970) is an American actor, stand-up comedian and radio host. He is known for playing film producer Peter Dragon in the television comedy series '' Action'' in 1999, Professor Rick Payne in the television ...

and

Julianne Nicholson Julianne Nicholson (born July 1, 1971) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the film '' August: Osage County'' (2013) and the television series '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' (2006–2009), '' Masters of Sex'' (2013–2014), ...

as a couple who decide to see other people two months before their wedding.

Plot

Ed and Alice are in love, but not passionate, ripping-clothes-off in love. They do laundry on Saturday, and do small things that make each other happy. At their engagement party, Alice sees a friend hook up with a server and comes to the conclusion that she would like to try more sexual partners before she settles down for the rest of her life. Ed, initially resistant to the idea of seeing other people, decides to go along with it. Alice takes the lead by making out with a friend's contractor, Donald. When she tells Ed, he is shocked, but incredibly turned on. They have some of the best sex they have had in years. Ed attempts to have sex with an actress at work, but cannot perform. Alice finally psyches herself up to having sex with Donald at his house. She leaves satisfied but hurriedly, while Donald clearly has fallen for her. That night, Alice tells Ed that she had sex with Donald. Ed never thought she would actually go that far. Upset, he leaves. He tries to hook up with different girls at a house party with his friend Carl, but none of his attempts goes well. He returns home to find Alice trying to call off the whole deal. Ed tells her that she is right and that he overreacted, but he says that they should continue the deal until she is completely satisfied so they have no regrets. The next day, Ed succeeds in having sex with the actress. When he tells Alice, he expects her to be jealous, but instead she is turned on. They again have sex and believe things to be going well. Having sex outside their relationship is improving their sex life. Carl observes a woman (Penelope) in a stereo store who is being pressured by an overzealous sales clerk. He helps install a new system for Penelope and her son Jake. Jake is angry at his mother because of her recent divorce. Ed has a date at a restaurant and turns out to be seated next to Alice and Donald; it is uncomfortable. Later, waiting for their cars, Ed and Alice talk. Ed is upset that Alice is seeing Donald, and she is upset that Ed has slept with so many women. Ed says they are supposed to be sleeping with other people, but she is just sleeping with one, as if it is a relationship. She says it is hard to sleep with other people with him living in the house. Ed agrees to move out. Alice is growing tired of Donald because he is needy. Ed is getting tired of meaningless sex. He eventually starts dating a woman named Sandy and grows to like her more and more. Breaking it off with Donald after finding out that he dates other women, Alice tries to get back with Ed. Ed, however, has feelings for Sandy at this point, but she is not quite what she seems. After a failed three-way in which the third girl straps on a dildo, Sandy suggests they try crack cocaine. In a self-destructive impulse, Alice tries to sleep with her sister's husband Peter. Her sister is having an affair with Ed's friend Lou. She shows up and all is revealed. Alice misses how comfortable and happy she used to be. Ed ends up stranded when Sandy runs off with his car after stealing a bag of crack. He walks all night and arrives at Alice's house just as everyone else is leaving. He pulls out a book of stamps that he bought weeks ago because he knew it to be one of the small things she loves. They sit side by side, not entirely sure where they go from here.

Main cast

as Ed *

as Alice *

Lauren Graham Lauren Helen Graham (born March 16, 1967) is an American Actor, actress and author. She is best known for portraying Lorelai Gilmore on The WB series ''Gilmore Girls'', for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – ...

as Claire *

Bryan Cranston Bryan Lee Cranston (born March 7, 1956) is an American actor. After taking minor roles in television, he established himself as a leading actor in both comedic and dramatic Bryan Cranston filmography, works on stage and screen. He has received ...

as Peter *

Josh Charles Joshua Aaron Charles (born September 15, 1971) is an American film, television, and theater actor. He is best known for the roles of Dan Rydell on '' Sports Night, '' Will Gardner on '' The Good Wife'', which earned him two Primetime Emmy Awar ...

as Lou *

Andy Richter Paul Andrew Richter (born October 28, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and talk show announcer. He is best known as the sidekick for Conan O'Brien on O'Brien's talk shows: '' Late Night'' and ''The Tonight Show'' on NBC and '' Cona ...

as Carl *

Helen Slater Helen Rachel Slater (born December 15, 1963) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is best known for playing the DC Comics superheroine Supergirl in the 1984 film ''Supergirl'', as well as appearing in films such as '' The Legend of Bi ...

as Penelope *

Alex Borstein Alexandrea Borstein (born February 15, 1973) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for voicing Lois Griffin in the animated comedy series ''Family Guy'' (1999–present), for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award ...

as Tracy * Nicole Marie Lenz as Miranda *

Mimi Rogers Miriam Rogers (née Spickler; born January 27, 1956) is an American actress. Her notable film roles are '' Gung Ho'' (1986), '' Someone to Watch Over Me'' (1987), '' Desperate Hours'' (1990), and '' Full Body Massage'' (1995). She garnered the g ...

as Elise *

Matthew Davis Matthew Wadsworth Davis (born May 8, 1978) is an American actor. He is mostly known for his roles as Warner Huntington III in ''Legally Blonde'', Adam Hillman on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC comedy-drama ''What About Brian'' (2006–20 ...

as Donald *

Jonathan Davis Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is the lead vocalist and frontman of nu metal band Korn, which is considered a pioneering act of the nu metal genre. Davis's ...

as Ricky *

Jill Ritchie Jill Susanne Ritchie (born March 5, 1974) is an American former actress. Early life Ritchie was born Jill Susanne Ritchie in Romeo, Michigan, on March 5, 1974, the daughter of Susan and William "Bill" Ritchie (1941–2024), who owned multiple ...

as Sandy *Niki J. Crawford as Venita *

Dylan McLaughlin Dylan McLaughlin (born December 2, 1993) is an American actor. He has appeared in television series including '' ER'' and ''Bones'' as well the motion pictures '' Alice Upside Down'', ''Georgia Rule'', and '' Kicking & Screaming''. He has also a ...

as Jake * Lew Schneider as Marty *

Shanna Moakler Shanna Lynn Moakler ( ; born March 28, 1975) is an American actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She was the winner of the Miss New York USA pageant in 1995 and was the first runner-up at Miss USA 1995. After winner Chelsi Smith won ...

as Kasey *

Mike Faiola Mike Faiola is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Eric in ''Quarterlife ''Quarterlife'' (stylized as ''quarterlife'') is an American web series, also briefly an NBC television series in 2008, created by Marshall Hersko ...

as Tim *

Sheeri Rappaport Sheeri Rappaport (born October 27, 1977) is an American actress. She is most famous for portraying lab technician Mandy Webster on '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''. Rappaport made her television debut with a guest role on ''Clarissa Explains I ...

as Naomi *

Riki Lindhome Erika "Riki" Lindhome (born ) is an American actress, comedian and musician. She is best known as a singer and songwriter for the Comedy rock, comedy folk duo Garfunkel and Oates with Kate Micucci. After making her television debut in 2002 with ...

as Girl Kissing Ed (uncredited) *

Liz Phair Elizabeth Clark Phair (born April 17, 1967) is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1990, she attempted to sta ...

as Yoga Teacher (uncredited)

External links

* * {{Gavin Polone 2004 films 2004 romantic comedy films 2000s sex comedy films American sex comedy films Films directed by Wallace Wolodarsky Films with screenplays by Wallace Wolodarsky Films with screenplays by Maya Forbes 2000s English-language films 2000s American films English-language sex comedy films English-language romantic comedy films