There’s a new reining theme in the comedy film scene and I’ll tell you this much, it’s not another teen movie. We as an audience and apparently the movie makers as well, are learning that the only thing funnier than awkward just-hit-puberty high school students is equally awkward adults. Last year The Hangover rocked box offices everywhere and continued to prove that movies like Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin is exactly what the recreational movie-goer is looking for. Actor, Jay Baruchel is no stranger to the Rated-R comedy scene with supporting roles in both Tropic Thunder and Knocked Up and now he’s taken his first lead role alongside the up and coming Alice Eve in She’s Out of My League.
It’s the classic tale of nerd meets and gets girl, nerd loses girl, and nerd, in of course a time sensitive sprint through an airport, gets girl back. When Molly (Alice Eve) is heading through airport security, her perfect 10 looks catch the attention and chauvinism of all men within her 15 foot radius, aside from average Joe, Kirk (Jay Baruchel), who’s nice guy attitude and recent broken heart cause him to be the only man who treats Molly as a customer, saving her from his creepy boss and gawking coworkers. Molly accidently leaves her phone at the security station and, when they meet up again, realizes Kirk might just be the type of guy she needs in her life.
I can’t say She’s Out of My League isn’t full of comedy genre clichés. It’s filled with its fair share of predictable characters and plot lines. Baruchel is enjoyable, if you can get back his overacted, I’m-a-pathetic-nerd voice that’s distracting for at least the first third of the movie. Eve is adorable and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of her considering she’s probably the hottest blonde to hit Hollywood since Tara Reid. Molly and Kirk’s friends offer the classic moral support and comedic relief every comedy gives us and we can guess what’s coming next from beginning to end.
Now that I’ve touched on the crappy elements that drag down every comedy ever made, let’s get down to the real reasons any of us watch movies like She’s Out of My League. Did we go to the theater 3 times to see Bradley Cooper’s moving monologues in The Hangover? Or see Knocked Up for its impeccable social message? Hell no we didn’t, and those types of reasons aren’t going to get people to see She’s Out of My League either. You will watch it because, well, it’s fricking hilarious. Beneath all of its cliché plot points and stereotypical characters are some hilariously brilliant elements that exceed expectations. Kirk’s married I–totally-thought-that-was-his-cliché-gay-friend is pure comedy with his constant Disney shout outs and feminine sensitivity. His family’s dysfunction and ex-girlfriend’s constant appearance make for countless awkward encounters and a full sense of second hand embarrassment for everyone watching. Even his other two best friends and Molly’s purposely much less attractive best friend bring some nice humor to the story.
To give you a point of reference I was with America in that I loved The Hangover, but it’s rare for me to be impressed with a comedy. I was mildly impressed by Knocked Up, didn’t find The 40-Year-Old Virgin all that great, and decided not to waste my time with Tropic Thunder. I’m into smart relatable humor. It’s about that “this is something that might just happen to me and my friends” factor. It’s virtually impossible for a comedy to break all the clichés because those elements are usually what make it a comedy in the first place. The real challenge comes in creating over the top yet relatable characters with a twist of “did he really just say that?” moments that keep you laughing out loud the whole throughout.
She’s Out of My League surprisingly gets it right. It’s clever, entertaining, relatable. Back that up with a kick ass soundtrack and a surprisingly picturesque Pittsburgh backdrop and you’ve got a film that’s definitely worth a view.
