|
Starring perpetually-pouting Ron Livingston (Office Space) and Neve "Have-you-actually-done-anything-since-Party of Five" Campbell, I was not exactly bursting with anticipation.
Livingston
stars as Dr. Richard Clayton who learns he is not the biological son of
the wealthy and prominent parents he was raised by. Rather, he is the
spawn of white-trash loudmouths Frank (Danny DeVito, also in a
producing role) and Agnes (Kathy Bates) Manure. Yes, that's their name.
Clever!
Richard and Ellen (Campbell), his perfect-as-pie
fiancee, go through a series of life changes when the babbling parents
are forced to move in with them. This normally would've cued a "and
hilarity ensues" sign filling the screen, and I expected that hilarity
would indeed ensue...it would've been a nice change.
There's a
few likeable moments. Micheal McKean (from, well, every movie ever made
but probably best known as blonde larrakin David St.Hubbins in Spinal Tap)
makes a quick cameo as a touchy-feely radio DJ who utters one of the
only two amusing lines in the film: "Touching you, touching me, 'till
next time". The guy can do anything!
Anyway, there's the typical
worn-out incidental music they use to convey emotion ("it's awkward
now, feel awkward!") and attempt to make commentary on class
differences (oh, rich vs. poor, you hate the rich 'cause they're mean
and snobby, and you like the poor 'cause they're so down to earth but
in the end everybody loves each other somehow) and the whole thing
rounds out to a nice feelgood ending where everybody gets what they
want. So sweet, I may now have diabetes.
Look, these kind of
movies are dandy. They're good for middle aged housewives who likes
conflict and resolution, and a nice love story, and family commentary
they can relate to. But for mine, I have high expectations for my
comedy. I expect to laugh, out loud, at length. Call me old fashioned.
I laughed out loud twice during entire film; once with the
aforementioned Micheal McKean joke, and again when an unexpected "So's
your face" line popped up. But all in all, the film had no meat. It was
a 99% fat-free film. If it was a girl, it'd be Kate Moss. If it was a
soft drink, it'd be Coke Zero.
What may annoy was Neve
Campbell's character (she should be vying for hard-hitting roles in
trendy arthouse films considering the state of her career), a more 2D
character I have never seen. She stands on the sidelines looking pretty
until she's needed for an argument or a wedding. She is the 'perfect
woman' in all Hollywood terms, crying on cue and swooning wherever
necessary. Richard and Ellen represent the opulent vegan
listening-to-wildlife-sounds bourgeoisie we all secretly wanna douse in
mud for being so damn perfect.
Danny DeVito is surprisingly
lacklustre here; playing white trash doesn't seem to be that difficult
in Hollywood. It seems to just be bad taste in clothes, a fondness for
monster trucks and cheese balls, and being loud. Hey, if a Hollywood
producer ever needed to see real poor loudmouths, they should hang
around Broadmeadows more often. But Kathy Bates and DeVito's characters
are definately the most likeable, if only for their good nature and
their fish-out-of-water awkwardness. The interaction between the two is
usually amusing, if not light. Bates is adorable as white-trash, I have
to say.
I'm going to use the word to describe this film that all
women hate: Fine. As in "You look fine". Probably the nicest word you
can use, it's only one step up from "crap". It was fine in most senses
of the word: fairly harmless, vaguely amusing, but didn't rock my boat,
so to speak.
If I'd wanted to watch a bunch of planks of wood
to interact with other, I'd hang around more construction sites. Or
watch more Keanu Reeves movies.
EXTRAS
Sadly,
nothing on offer here. Considering that the flick didn't get a
theatrical release here or in the States - it's not much of a surprise
though.
A worthwhile Friday night DVD flick none the less.
Conclusion:
Movie 60% Extras: 30%
|
