Divorce gets ugly especially when infidelity is part of the reasons and more so if there is a child or children involved. However, Baumbach introduces us to this couple that is willing to work through their problems before resorting to divorce. In the opening sequence, Charlie and Nicole are working out their marital issues with the help of a mediator. Though Charlie acknowledges the things he loves about Nicole, she is hesitant to read out her list of attributes. The subsequent scenes further highlight the power balance in their relationship with Charlie holding much of the power. Nonetheless, they choose an amicable and mature separation despite their unsolved issues but that is before their divorce lawyers get involved too.
During the divorce, the lawyers take center stage as they dictate the approaches of each of the couples. Nicole’s family lawyer Nora uses her pain and resentment to fuel her case against Charlie to get claims and custody. Initially, Charlie hires a courteous lawyer to handle his case until he gets wind of what he is up against with his soon-to-be ex-wife. As such, he goes back to the ruthless lawyer with the same malice as Nora to defend him. Though the couple is friendly when co-parenting and interacting by themselves the legal process puts a toll on them, particularly Charlie. The power balance shifts towards Nicole as she gets better terms in the divorce and her career flourishes. After some time passes the two move on with their individual lives and find a cordial middle ground to co-parent.
Baumbach chooses a more sympathetic approach to tackle divorce, unlike his previous films that address marriage and separation. It is compassionate towards its characters and their weaknesses hence the film barely places all the fault on one partner. Marissa De La Cerda of Chicago Reader wrote “By the end, you're rooting for both Charlie and Nicole, hoping they find their own happiness despite all the bad things and the pain they caused one another.”
