Review #46: Jenny's Wedding

Release Date: July 31, 2015
Writer: Mary Agnes Donoghue
Director: Mary Agnes Donoghue

Logline: Jenny Farrell has led an openly gay life - except with her conventional family. When she finally decides to start a family and marry the woman they thought was just her roommate, the small, safe world the Farrells inhabited changes forever. They are left with a simple and difficult choice - either change with it or drown. (IMDb) Comedy, 94 minutes.

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

After reading this interview with writer/director Mary Agnes Donaghue, I was really looking forward to Jenny’s Wedding. Films centering around LGBT issues are unfortunately scarce and I’m always happy to see people attempting to help bridge that gap. While the effort is valiant, the finished product unfortunately doesn’t quite pay off. With mediocre performances, stiff dialogue and a blatant over usage of that Macklemore song from 2012, Jenny’s Wedding squanders its opportunity to tell an important story that is both needed and wanted in our current age of sequels, remakes and male centered action blockbusters.

This film could have benefited greatly from better chemistry between the two leads. Katherine Heigl’s Jenny and Alexis Bledel’s Kitty are so boring together that it’s easy to see why Jenny’s family had no problem believing they were just roommates. They are the beigest of beige. Too basic to even fit the categorization of basic bitches. Although the film is truly about Jenny and her family, a little more time focused solely on her relationship with Kitty may have produced a deeper level of empathy from the audience.

The combination of on-the-nose dialogue and preachy overtones makes the film seem more like a made for tv movie than an authentic discussion on coming out and being true to yourself. It just feels a little clunky, a little outdated and a little disjointed. When you add all these problems up, they equal a disappointing experience and a mediocre film.

Portrayal of Women: On a positive note, it’s nice to see the women in the film grow into more confident versions of themselves. Jenny escapes her state of fear and learns to stick to her guns. Her mother does the same as she lets go of a lifelong desire to fit into the cookie cutter

stereotype of a perfect family.

And then there is Jenny’s sister, Anne, who is played beautifully by Grace Gummer and is arguably the most interesting character in the film. Trapped in a horrible marriage and an unhappy life, Anne comes to the understanding that the only way to ensure your own happiness is to take action. She is consumed with this idea that happy people don’t have dead grass – something her yard has been plagued with for years. I really wanted to get on board with this, but like the rest of the film, it was too forced to actually be effective. 

Sisterhood Moment: The dynamic between Jenny and Anne is almost worthy of its own film. The implied rocky history seems to be founded on jealousy and mistrust – feelings that are sometimes impossible to avoid between sisters. The moment Jenny asks Anne to be her maid of honour is sincerely sweet and shows that the bond of sisterhood is truly stronger than anything.

Rating: 1 gossiping neighbor with questionable hair choices

IMDb - Jenny's Wedding (5.4)

Wikipedia - Jenny's Wedding

Rotten Tomatoes - Jenny's Wedding  (8%)

Review #45 - Something Borrowed

Release Date: May 6, 2011
Writer: Jennie Snyder Urman, Emily Griffin (novel)
Director: Luke Greenfield

Logline: Friendships are tested and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel falls for Dex, her best friend Darcy's fiance. (IMDb)

Comedy, Romance. 112 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

Is it just me or is Something Borrowed always playing on TV? I honestly can’t remember the last time I was scrolling through the channel guide and didn’t see it listed somewhere. This has resulted in it becoming a sort of fixture of background noise in my house. Cleaning out the fridge? I bet Something Borrowed is playing on W, I’ll put that on. Painting my nails? Something Borrowed is on TBS, the perfect companion. Need something to do while I eat an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos? I’ll switch over to the French network – an educational way to view Something Borrowed!

If you’re thinking that all of this leads up to a grand declaration of love for this movie, you thought wrong. I HATE this movie. So much. Why do I keep watching it? I have no idea. I just can’t say no – it’s like some kind of form of self torture.

The characters aren't likable and the dialogue is far from charming but the real reason I can't stand this movie is because why would anyone pick Dex (Colin Egglesfield) when they could have Ethan (John Krasinski)? This is just too big of a plot hole to ignore and it makes me rage every time I think about. Although I generally try to avoid judging a movie solely on a plot decision I don't agree with, I can't help myself with this one. On the other hand, Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is boring as hell so her and Dex probably deserve each other.

If you're still upset about the ending of Pretty in Pink, skip this one.

Portrayal of Women: The women in this movie take on so many sterotypical traits that they become caricatures. Rachel is the modest, meek girl who lives to take care of everyone else. Darcy (Kate Hudson) is the bitchy life of the party who is too self absorbed to have any kind of depth. Claire (Ashley Williams) is the crazy single girl who will stop at nothing to get her man.

Unfortunately, these one dimensional women are also defined by their relationship to men. Their value goes up when they have a significant other which makes having/keeping a boyfriend the most important goal in their lives. Lifelong friendships are tossed aside, honesty is completely disregarded, and lying is considered an absolute essential - all in the name of finding love.

We are tricked into thinking this movie is about a woman finding her voice and fighting for what she wants. In reality, it's about women being horrible to each other while using manipulation and deceit to get what they want. And what is it that our 'hero' is rewarded with? The opportunity to pick up dry cleaning for her basic bitch boyfriend. What a dream come true.

Sisterhood Moment: I'll admit that the choreographed dance to Push It is everything I've ever believed in. It's magical. 

Rating: 1 dropped pencil

IMDb - Something Borrowed (5.9)

Wikipedia - Something Borrowed

Rotten Tomatoes - Something Borrowed  (15%)

Review #39 Sex Tape

Release Date: July 18th, 2014
Writer: Kate Angelo, Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
Director: Jake Kasdan

Logline: A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts. (Source IMDb)

Comedy, 94min. 

Bechdel Test: Weak weak weak pass. (Annie asks her Mom to watch their kids)

Review

America loves a dirty R-rated comedy! And A-list celebrities! And wacky jokes... and... awkward situations.... and this movie kind of sucks. It's not funny, or memorable, or even very entertaining. This is one tired movie.

I hate complaining about a comedy with a bad premise, because I often argue that no one goes to a comedy for the story, they go to laugh. Sex Tape is just such a predictable drag. There are long scenes of serious exposition butted up against cartoonish scenes of slapstick jokes. It doesn't come together. There's no pacing and no focus.

It's as if you combined Zach and Miri Make a Porno with Home Alone. Both good movies individually. Combined they don't work. It's the seriousness of an adult comedy where trying to balance a home life and social life goes awry, with the silly antics of a someone breaking into a mansion and discovering elaborate booby-traps. It sets up the audience and misfires completely. There's no sincerity or emotion in Sex Tape. No social commentary, no twists or unexpected surprises. It's a film that rests entirely on embarrassing adults who are trying to avoid being embarrassed.

Underneath the bad taste that Sex Tape leaves behind, there are some elements that could have become a great film. I may not be a big Cameron Diaz fan but she does a good job, and has good chemistry with Jason Segel. Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper seemed tremendously underused. They were often the "straight guy" couple to the wacky couple, which is crazy considering they are two of the funniest comedians working in movies.

Overall, this is a big MISS. A major disappointment for Segel, and another predictable turn for Diaz who has made unusual romcoms her bread and butter.

Portrayal of Women: I was quite surprised when I asked myself this question because the film is about a couple, and the supporting cast is of their friends and coworkers. It seemed rather balanced, but when I thought about the Bechdel Test I realized I was wrong. In the film, Jay's is his own boss, with a female assistant, and when he is off the clock he talks about anything with his friend Robbie. Annie, on the hand, writes a blog where she talks about her relationship and family, tries to sell it to a male boss and only talks to her friend Tess about her relationship and family. Not exactly balanced.

Sisterhood Moment: I think this goes to the supporting cast. I really thought it was hilarious when Jay and Annie stormed into Robbie and Tess's home only to discover it was their anniversary that they weren't even celebrating, they were watching TV. Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper were wonderfully nonchalant about their own lives, and then super excited to go on an adventure with their friends to rescue the iPads. Who isn't excited to get out of the house?

Rating: 1 tablet out of the whole Apple Store.

IMDb - Sex Tape (5.1)
Wikipedia - Sex Tape
Rotten Tomatoes - Sex Tape (18%)

Review #38: Tammy

Release Date: July 2, 2014
Writer: Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy

Director: Ben Falcone

Logline: After losing her job and learning that her husband has been unfaithful, a woman hits the road with her profane, hard-drinking grandmother. (Source: IMDb)

Comedy, 97 min. 

Bechdel Test: Passed all three test.

Review

In the spring of 2014 quiet rumors of a comedy sensation swept the nation. Ok, that might be a little melodramatic. But before the release of Tammy, Melissa McCarthy was earning her rank as comedy legend with only a few leading roles under her belt. The idea of McCarthy bringing her own vision to the big screen, with her and her husband writing and directing seemed like a sure bet. The film opened huge. Women could lead the way in comedy. 

But with all that hype Tammy feels like a major misstep. The multitude of characters, the adventurous storyline, nothing amounts to anything in the film. The concept and plot are wishy washy, and the comedy suffers. The sweet moments are not funny and the funny moments are often lackluster or crude. 

What's ultimately frustrating about Tammy is that the skeleton for a memorable and hilarious comedy is there. Although its hard to define any real plot, its a white trash girl, down on her luck, who finds herself on an adventure with her alcoholic grandmother. Along the way a huge number of minor characters filter in and out with no real significant jokes or impact. Nat Faxon, for example, plays Tammy's cheating husband. His entire role consists of mumbling apologies under his breath instead of delivering a strong memorable character with powerful lines. In the long line of supporing roles, Alison Janny, Sandra Oh, Toni Collette, Mark Duplass, Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd, none create engaging characters. 

Even the story itself doesn't add up. McCarthy's character Tammy is full of contradictions in an attempt to be funny in whatever scene she's in. Tammy isn't dumb or incapable, she's a "Bad Luck Brian" who is both a functional regular person that's down on their luck, and a total sociopath who is oblivious to other people. She willingly accepts the consequences of breaking a dock while jet-skiing, but holds up a fast food restaurant as if no one will ever notice her when she immediately heads straight into a police station. When at a bar with Bobby, she flirts with him mercilessly as if she's oblivious to his disinterest, but when he becomes genuinely interested, she pumps the breaks and acts as if someone flirting with her is unheard of. All while she's married, by the way. I'm not sure if she has really changed by the end of the film because her character was so undefined. 

The only memorable gems in Tammy is Susan Sarandon's character Pearl. She doesn't pull any punches and is really the emotional core of the film. Pearl is everyone's embarrassing family member, who provides sage wisdom, then gets drunk at a party and tries to sing karaoke. 

Do I recommend Tammy? No. Not even the charm of Melissa McCarthy can save a scene of deer-murder. It's a valiant effort but it's a movie with the training wheels still on. The one scene of McCarthy holding up a fast food store is the center point of the films marketing, and to a certain extent the movie. But one scene of goofy acting isn't enough to hold up the whole film. I look forward to seeing what Melissa and Ben do in the future, because anything will be better than this.

Portrayal of Women: There's a lot of great female characters. A lot of women supporting women. Friends and family look out for each other. The only bad thing is they are all pretty weak characters. Still, it's nice to see women represented in minor characters who aren't love interests. 

Sisterhood Moment: Kathy Bates as Pearl's lesbian cousin who helps smuggle them out of state to hide from the law. I'm so glad to see Bates doing some quality comedy roles. She's outstanding. Her and Sarandon have great chemistry and she's a total badass. 

Rating: 1 lonely pie. 

IMDb - Tammy (4.8)

Wikipedia - Tammy

Rotten Tomatoes - Tammy (24%)