Trainwreck
After months and months of hype and buzz, it was inevitable Trainwreck
would be funny, but not anywhere close to the revelation it has been
billed to be.
Amy Schumer stars as Amy – the ultimate playa. She likes to
drink, party, and enjoy the company of various men, including her
somewhat boyfriend, Stephen (John Cena). However, the life of
anti-monogamy she has been leading, and the belief she thought would
see her throughout the rest of her days, isn’t as fulfilling
anymore.
As her father (Colin Quinn) goes through medical issues and her sister
(Brie Larson) lives the happy married life, Amy meets Dr. Aaron (Bill
Hader). She’s supposed to write an article about him, his
groundbreaking medical practice aiding professional athletes and his
charitable work, but Amy finds herself falling for the good doctor.
Worst of all, he is falling very hard for her, which has Amy wondering
why she is feeling so deeply and seriously about a man who is too nice,
too mannered and too gentlemanly.
Trainwreck
starts strong as a hilarious role reversal comedy, but limps to the end
as a serious drama vaguely questioning why commitment is so frightening
to the last few generations. I think it is supposed to be deeper, but
doesn’t quite get there.
In the beginning, Schumer (who also wrote the movie) has the audience
laughing at our heroine’s outrageous antics and interactions
with the people in her life, and gets the most comedy out of a
collection of men who are clingy, soft, and emotional.
Yet, director Judd Apatow and Schumer can’t make Trainwreck
more than a series of funny scenes that play out like monologues from a
stand-up comedian. Each scene is hilarious, but these might as well be
a group of unrelated, one act skits on Saturday Night Live.
They are
doing more to introduce Amy Schumer to the world rather than trying to
tell a story.
Then, Trainwreck
becomes a serious drama about strained family relationships and the
complexities of romance. What happened to my comedy?
We know she is one of the funniest women on the planet, but Schumer
proves to have the ability to carry off the serious moments just as
well. If it wasn’t for her acting, I think I would have given
up on Trainwreck as Apatow stumbles around in an attempt to find an
ending (an ending interminably delayed because they keep trying to
squeeze in scenes that don’t add much to the main story).
Trainwreck
is funny for half of the movie, then you might only stick around to see
how it ends, or because you hope LeBron James will come back.
Trainwreck
is rated R for strong sexual
content, nudity, language and some drug use.
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