Together Together (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie is set in a modern urban environment, with key scenes taking place at a coffee shop where Matt and Anna meet, a hospital where the baby is delivered, and a park that serves as a space for emotional connection between the characters.

• locations
• setting
• coffee shop
• hospital
• park

The film takes place in contemporary modern day society, reflecting current attitudes toward relationships, surrogacy, and personal growth. The setting feels grounded in today's world with recognizable urban locations and everyday scenarios.

• time period
• modern day
• contemporary

The three central themes are parenthood, independence, and education. The film explores the emotional complexities of unconventional parenting, the challenge of maintaining personal autonomy while forming new family bonds, and the intersection of educational aspirations with life-changing decisions.

• themes
• parenthood
• independence
• education

Parenthood is portrayed as a journey that transcends traditional boundaries. The film explores how expectant parents navigate an unconventional surrogacy situation, highlighting the emotional complexities of forming connections without conventional family structures while emphasizing love, responsibility, and the deep bond that develops.

• parenthood
• surrogacy
• parenting
• family

Anna is a young coffee shop employee portrayed by Patti Harrison who decides to become a surrogate. She is independent and cautious, balancing her aspirations for higher education with the emotional complexities of impending motherhood. Her character represents young adults navigating major life decisions while trying to maintain personal goals.

• anna
• character
• surrogate
• coffee shop

Matt is a forty-something app developer played by Ed Helms who is seeking to become a father through surrogacy. He is emotionally invested in the process and approaches fatherhood with eager optimism, though his journey reveals vulnerability beneath his upbeat personality as he navigates complex family dynamics.

• matt
• ed helms
• surrogate
• father
• app developer

Independence is explored through Anna's struggle to maintain her autonomy while embracing motherhood. The theme highlights her need to balance personal aspirations with responsibilities, showing how she navigates between her desires for educational achievement and her growing attachment to Matt and the surrogacy arrangement.

• independence
• autonomy
• anna
• personal goals

Education represents Anna's personal aspirations and financial reality. Her pursuit of degrees intersects with her decision to become a surrogate, as the compensation helps fund her educational goals. This theme illustrates the complex decisions young adults face when balancing academic ambitions with life-altering choices.

• education
• college
• degrees
• financial
• aspirations

Their relationship is distinctly platonic, centered on their shared journey through surrogacy and impending parenthood rather than romantic involvement. The film explores the unique bond that forms between them as they navigate this unconventional arrangement, with the primary tension coming from setting healthy boundaries.

• relationship
• platonic
• bond
• surrogacy arrangement

The film has a light, comedic tone despite dealing with emotionally complex subject matter. It features frequent light-hearted banter and humorous situations while still addressing themes of family tension and financial struggle. The emotional complexity remains straightforward, leading to a happy ending that satisfies without becoming overly sentimental.

• tone
• mood
• comedy
• light-hearted
• happy ending