Release Date: 3/21/08
I love Simon Pegg. I loved Shaun of the Dead, and I roared through Hot Fuzz. I am ready for Simon Pegg to win over America again. It just ain’t gonna happen with this movie. I think this one will do fine, because there hasn’t been a romantic comedy released since Valentine’s Day, but it’s not spectacular.There were a few belly laughs in the audience, but none were mine. It really almost plays like a kid’s movie more than one for adults. Which makes me credit the writer and director: Michael Ian Black (who is typically unfunny on all of those Best Week Ever/I Love XX’s VH1 shows) and David Schwimmer (also someone I find no humor in). There are a lot of sight gags, but it doesn’t quite go into Farrelly Brothers territory.
This is one of those movies where you’ve seen the trailer and you’ve seen almost all the highlights. It’s a short movie, but there are parts that just drag on.
Thandie Newton has the thankless job of just looking pretty and being a ping pong ball between Pegg and Hank Azaria. It’s a damn good thing she’s flawlessly beautiful.
It pretty much sticks to the formula for a romantic comedy about separated parents. Girl and boy don’t get along, the girl finds a new man, the boy feels threatened and tries to win her back, and you’re waiting 80 more minutes to see if she ever gets back with the boy.
I wanted to like this more, but I have to say, it’s not worth more than a rental. It’s mildly entertaining. It’s worth about $4.00 to me.
I wasn't planning on seeing this movie anyway, but I always love reading your reviews, DN.
ReplyDelete:( I love simon pegg and dylan moran so I was hoping it would be good. guess I'll just netflix it.
ReplyDeleteI am so bummed that this didn't live up to it's potential!
ReplyDeleteShaun of the Dead was effing awesome.
Absolutely agree, especially on the loving Simon Pegg part. This bland and predictable. Only unexpected part was naked Hank Azaria. Very buff - and funny.
ReplyDeleteI liked this movie, but I agree it's more "Rental Material" than "Theatre Material". It did make me rather misty eyed toward the end...I guess I'm a little more sentimental than I'd like to admit at times.
ReplyDeleteNot really funny, but "sweet" like a Hallmark movie of the week that features cursing, children born out of wedlock, and heavy tobacco and alcohol use. A few chuckles here and there. Dylan Moran was funnier in "Black Books" or in his live shows, but hey, I like the man no matter what he does. Ditto Simon Pegg. So instead of "funny" see the movie with the assumption that it is "sweet" and you won't be underwhelmed.
Imagine it less like "Shaun of the Dead" and more like "About a Boy" only featuring the a marathon and no (deliberate) suicide attempts.
Have you seen the show 'Spaced' Ent? I think it's from around 1998, written by Pegg and Jessica Hynes. Really great writing, and you can see where some of the Shaun of the Dead story lines started off.
ReplyDelete