Directed by Ben Palmer and featuring whimsical music by Dickon Hinchliffe, Man Up is a romantic comedy one doesn’t expect, but it’s still terrific and fun to watch. Jack, played honestly by Simon Pegg, and Nancy, played with heartfelt emotion by Lake Bell, take an unusual situation and make the most of it. It’s not quite a blind date, but still, they have a night on the town. The talented supporting cast adds even more sparks to the believable and well-honed script by Tess Morris.

The movie starts with Nancy, who seems to be having a hard time. She meets Jack at the train station, and they end up spending the day together, even though she promised her parents she would give the “Happy Anniversary” speech at their party. Running into Jack sets her boring life on a whirlwind, and the stimulating chemistry and ease they share are fun to watch. Pegg is not the typical handsome leading man, and for him to play Jack makes their situation a bit twisted, though the attraction is percolating.

The movie flies along as the couple gets along quite well, sharing sharp-witted humor and going with the flow, just having an excellent time. They move from place to place and become comfortable with each other as they communicate and laugh together.

They have a run-in with Jack’s almost-ex-wife, Hilary, played caustically by Olivia Williams, and her new boyfriend.  The scene is fun to watch because Hilary is so arrogant toward Jack, and when she gets her comeuppance, it’s so perfect to see.

More twists happen in the story that I will not disclose because I want you to enjoy the movie and be surprised. I will say that at one point, Jack completely goes whacky with such blatant sarcasm and over-the-top wit that Pegg pulls it off brilliantly, as he is so well-known for doing.

All in all, the ending really brings the movie to a nice close with a feel-good, let’s-have-fun attitude. I am happy I saw this movie and highly recommend it.