3 stars out of 5
I was feeling 3.5 stars for a long time, I really was. Maybe even 4 early on, and “Oh no, will I have to revise my 2011 best-of list?” It starts out very refreshing, because the main character in this sort of movie—well, and also, in my life—is almost always a guy. (Wait, that came out wrong. I am always a guy.) As Mavis, Charlize Theron displays a flair for comedy we haven’t really seen since Arrested Development, Teenage Fanclub’s “The Concept” is prominently featured, the Juno dream team of Reitman and Cody is reunited—I was feeling really good about this movie.
Didn’t hurt that I could relate to it. Mavis’s life and lifestyle hit a little close to home. And of course the Facebook era has made many of us wonder, “What if things had gone differently with so-and-so?” Patton Oswalt is in his wheelhouse here as a lonely schlub. (Though occasionally his performance seems a bit more like stand-up Patton than actor Patton. Who am I kidding, I was more concerned that people leaving the theater would point at me and say, “It’s him!!!”) Reitman once again navigates a potentially clichéd situation: a fish-out-of-water tale of the city girl returning to her small town—and makes it feel true. Nice comic touches abound. Charlize and Patton’s slowly developing friendship feels real.
So what’s wrong here? Well, a couple of things in my estimation. Though Mavis is very amusing—and gorgeous, very gorgeous—she isn’t real likable. No one here is. So the movie doesn’t really have a moral center. And then, late in the movie, it takes a hard, sudden turn from low-key, realistic comedy to heavy, heavy drama. There are hints of this throughout (spolier alert: Mavis pulls at her hair!), but at least for me, the movie hadn’t earned the right to get so serious. Ooh, wait, a third thing: The ending didn’t feel satisfying.
My advice: Wait for cable, watch this, you’ll mostly enjoy it—at the very least, another great Reitman soundtrack and a J.K. Simmons audio cameo—and then see if you feel differently about the ending. You might.
It’s too bad the end part doesn’t match the quality or tone of the beginning part, but that’s good to know. I definitely have to see this one at least because of the subject matter. The Diablo Cody aspect helps.
Your Facebook comment is very true. But fear not — you never know what can happen in the future. Life takes strange twists. We’re only our early 40s, which is still young-adult. (OK, let me delude myself.) Our lives are only half over, right? Uh, wait…that part doesn’t sound so good.
Go right now! Free on Tuesdays with the Optimum Triple Play! (What?? You don’t have the Optimum Triple Play?)
*This comment brought to you by James Dolan and all of us here at Radio City Entertainment
and also, : )
I used to love those crazy optimum triple play commercials. But I don’t go to movies because of bed bugs. I look forward to discussing this when I’ve seen it from Netflix in 6 months.
We only have silverfish in NJ. And mice in the PATH tunnels instead of rats. It’s cute over here!
Wait–you’re NOT Patton Oswalt?
Sometimes I do wonder. It’s my only motivation to exercise.