Intolerable Cruelty, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, is a razor-sharp romantic comedy that skewers both modern romance and the legal system with clever wit and screwball energy. The film is a stylish, unpredictable showdown between two con artists who just might be made for each other.
Miles Massey (George Clooney) is Los Angeles’s most formidable divorce attorney, famed for the foolproof “Massey Pre-Nup” and slick courtroom bravado.
Bored by his success and craving a real challenge, Miles finds his match in Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a cunning beauty notorious for marrying—and divorcing—for money.
When Marylin finds her plans to fleece her wealthy husband dashed by Miles’s legal genius, she sets out to get even, drawing both of them into an escalating game of seduction, underhanded maneuvers, and veiled threats.
The dance between Miles and Marylin grows increasingly elaborate, moving from the courtroom to lavish parties, spontaneous weddings, and high-stakes reveals.
Along the way, they cross paths with an eccentric parade of supporting characters—from an aggrieved soap opera producer (Geoffrey Rush) to a bumbling hitman and an always-scheming private investigator.
As attraction and rivalry become hopelessly entangled, both must decide if love can survive in a world built on pre-nups, betrayals, and endless reversals.
Catherine Zeta-Jones in Intolerable Cruelty (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Performances and Tone
Clooney dazzles as the vain but charming legal shark, playing perfectly off Zeta-Jones’s icy brilliance and sly sensuality.
Cedric the Entertainer, Edward Herrmann, Billy Bob Thornton, Richard Jenkins, Julia Duffy and Royce D. Applegate round out the cast.
The Coens deliver their signature visual flair and quick, layered dialogue, blending physical comedy with verbal sparring for a romantic comedy that’s as much about strategy as about passion.
Reception for Intolerable Cruelty
Intolerable Cruelty grossed $12.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $120.8 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave the film two and a half stars in his review.
Legacy
Intolerable Cruelty endures as a clever deconstruction of both romantic and legal conventions and it remains a standout for those who enjoy romantic comedy with bite—balancing farce, satire, and genuine chemistry.
Over time, the film has become a cult favorite, appreciated for its sharp script, stylish performances, and uniquely Coen-esque approach to the oldest battle of all: love versus self-protection.
