Spoiler Alert: What Really Doesn’t Work in “Trainwreck” — and the Surprising Moments that Do

Spoiler Alert: What Really Doesn’t Work in “Trainwreck” — and the Surprising Moments that Do

Posted on July 25, 2015 at 3:37 pm

Copyright 2015 Universal
Copyright 2015 Universal

SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT

I had a few more thoughts about Amy Schumer’s “Trainwreck” that didn’t fit into my review because they are too spoilery.

First, our concerns over Schumer’s party girl character, also called Amy, are supposed to be about her drinking, pot-smoking, and one-night-stands. But can we take a moment to talk about how completely irresponsible she is at her job? It is a massive violation of journalistic ethics and instant firing offense, even for a skanky rag like the magazine she works for in this film, to sleep with the subject of your story. We are supposed to respect Amy’s professional accomplishments, especially at the end when her story, rejected as “too boring” by her employer, then somehow appears in Vanity Fair.

This is just one element that makes it difficult to make the leap of faith necessary to believe that Mr. Wonderful — or, I should say, Dr. Wonderful — played by Bill Hader, would actually fall for her. Yes, she’s pretty and funny and she sleeps with him right away, but can he have any respect for her whatsoever? No gauzey montage, even with air quotes around it, even with the genuine chemistry between the actors, is enough to prevent us from wondering whether the doctor can’t do better.

There are too many distractions. That dog walker movie? We could have one without it entirely, and there was certainly no reason for a reprise. And what was that “intervention” all about?

What I did like a lot: Amy’s affecting eulogy for her father gives some emotional heft to her character. And the scene after she takes a phone call during his speech is really well done, as Amy learns for the first time that people in relationships resolve conflict; they don’t run away from it.

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Commentary Spoiler Alert

Amy Schumer Talks to Michael Ian Black on “How to Be Amazing”

Posted on July 21, 2015 at 8:55 am

https://soundcloud.com/audible/how-to-be-amazing-with-michael-ian-black-episode-6-amy-schumer/

Amy Schumer appeared on Michael Ian Black’s brilliant interview series, “How to Be Amazing.” In this clip, she talks about creating her stand-up persona and “tricking people into listening.” You can download the hour-long interview for free, as well as other episodes featuring Elizabeth Gilbert, Brian Greene, Megan Mullally, Kevin Smith, Frank Rich, and many others.

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Actors
Trainwreck

Trainwreck

Posted on July 16, 2015 at 10:00 am

Judd Apatow has made a bunch of raunchy comedies about man-children who have to learn to grow up and embrace the joys of intimacy and responsibility, and one raunchy comedy (“This is 40”) about a couple who have to learn to grow up and embrace the joys of intimacy and responsibility. Guess what his new movie is about? Yes, this time it’s a woman who has to learn to grow up and embrace the joys of intimacy and responsibility.

Copyright 2015 Universal
Copyright 2015 Universal

It stars Amy Schumer, who wrote the script based on her stand-up character, a potty-mouthed single woman who is unabashedly sexual, an empowered feminist, but often self-deprecating. The film begins with Schumer’s character Amy as a child, with her sister, as their father (Colin Quinn) tells them why he is divorcing their mother. “Monogamy isn’t realistic,” he tells them, and they repeat it after him obediently, if not quite comprehendingly.

Fast forward 23 years and Amy is now, she tells us, very happy with her life. She has a great job as a writer for a men’s magazine that hands out article assignments like “Are you gay or is she just boring?” and whether garlic affects the way a man…tastes. She has a series of one-night stands that she enjoys (except when she wakes up not knowing where she is and quite distressed to find that it is Staten Island). She has no problem tricking a man into taking care of her needs and then pretending to be asleep so she does not have to reciprocate — why not? She is never going to see him again. She likes to feel “in control.” And she even has a sort-of regular boyfriend, who has extremely impressive muscles but perhaps a not fully-thought-through sexual orientation (a very funny John Cena).

Amy cannot imagine why anyone would consider her life of drinking and countless men anything but ideal, especially her happily married sister Kim, named for real-life Amy’s sister and writing partner, and played with wry perfection by the indispensible Brie Larson.

And then Amy is assigned to write a story about a sports surgeon (“SNL” alum Bill Hader as Aaron) and she discovers what it feels like to begin to care about someone and worry about whether he feels the same way, which completely freaks her out. Plus, she thinks that “sports are stupid and anyone who likes them is just a lesser intellect.” (Is this a reference to the first Tracy-Hepburn movie, “Woman of the Year,” where a political reporter meets a sports writer because she insulted athletes and their fans?)  Romantic comedy ensues.

Schumer is very funny and an exceptionally appealing comic actress who can make “thank you” into five different hilarious punchlines. As a scriptwriter, she has not quite made the transition from skits to storylines, and gets little help there from Apatow, who has to learn how to cut a movie. There may be a comedy that deserves more than two hours, but this is not it. It is 20-30 minutes too long, with a number of diversions that drag on the pacing. The characters watch a black and white romantic film about a dog walker starring Daniel Radcliffe and Marisa Tomei that never goes anywhere. And the conclusion is disappointingly formulaic.

There are individual moments, though, that are genuine breakthroughs and wildly funny. Some of the best are small, almost throwaway moments. On that trip back from Staten Island, Amy impulsively throws her arms in the air at the prow of the boat, emulating the spirit of Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl” and Kate Winslet in “Titanic.” And the supporting cast is exceptional, including Brie Larson (“Room”) as Amy’s sister. Aaron’s best friend is Lebron James, playing a take on himself (the real Lebron’s basketball skills, the movie Lebron’s cheapness and affection for “Downton Abbey”). He is a romantic comedy best friend for the ages. There’s a cheeky riff on the inevitable New York City movie falling-in-love montage. Tilda Swinton is a hoot (and unrecognizable) as Amy’s boss.

And there is a brief serious speech that is is unexpectedly moving. As movie Amy learns to believe in the possibility of romance, real Amy just might make us believe again in the possibility of romantic comedies.

Parents should know that this film includes very raunchy sexual humor including explicit sexual references and situations and some nudity, very strong language, references to substance abuse, drinking, marijuana, and cocaine, some graphic scenes of an operation, and a sad death.

Family discussion: Why did Amy and Kim respond so differently to the way they grew up? Was Amy’s eulogy fair? What do we learn from the way Amy describes her work for the magazine to Aaron?

If you like this, try: “The Hangover” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin”

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Coming in July 2015: Magic Mike XXL, Terminator: Genisys, Minions, and Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck

Posted on July 1, 2015 at 8:00 am

Happy July! As usual, this July is going to be filled with blockbusters, sequels, remakes, raunchy comedies, and superheroes, but there are some worthwhile smaller films as well.

Opening today, for the holiday weekend, we have two sequels.

Magic Mike XXL: The dancers go on the road — can they win the big competition?

Terminator Genisys: Somehow they are going to explain how the Arnold Schwarzenegger android is aging.

July 10

Minions: Where did those little yellow guys come from? Why do they love to work for evil geniuses? This prequel to the “Despicable Me” movies stars Sandra Bullock as Scarlett Overkill.

Self/Less: A rich old guy (Sir Ben Kingsley) who does not want to die takes on the body of a young, healthy guy (Ryan Reynolds).

Batkid Begins: A five year old cancer survivor told Make-a-Wish he wanted to be Batman, and the entire city of San Francisco made his wish come true. Julia Roberts will star in the feature film adaptation of this heartwarming documentary.


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July 17

Trainwreck: Amy Schumer wrote and stars in this raunchy comedy about a young woman with commitment issues who falls for a doctor (Bill Hader). LeBron James co-stars as himself.

Ant-Man: Yes, he is a tiny superhero. But he is played by Paul Rudd, so I am on board.

July 24

Pixels: We are attacked by aliens — in the firm of old-school arcade games!

Paper Towns: Nat Wolff and John Green — two of my favorites. Green’s book is about a high school kid whose life is turned upside down when the girl he has loved from afar invites him on an adventure and then disappears.

Irrational Man: Woody Allen’s latest seems to be another movie about a middle-aged man (Joaquin Phoenix) whose life is saved by a beautiful young woman (Emma Stone). I hope not.

July 29

Vacation: Do we need a remake of the Chevy Chase classic? We’re going to find out!

July 31

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation: Tom Cruise is back and the action looks sensational.

Stanford Prison Experiment: Psychology researchers assign students the roles of prisoners and guards. What could go wrong? Based on a true story.

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