Lyzsi SinclairCinema release review - "She's Out Of My League"
Coming to a cinema near you soon, (June 4th in the UK) is the romantic comedy “She's Out Of My League”. Starring Jay Baruchel (“How To Train Your Dragon”) and Alice Eve (“Big Nothing”); this film is definitely more comedy than romance, and follows in the footsteps of films like “Van Wilder” or “The 40 Year Old Virgin”...
Kirk Kettner (Baruchel) is Mr Average. He works a 9-5 job in Airport security, spends his free time with his best friends, and looks-wise - he rates at about a 5/10. Never really moving on from his ex-girlfriend Marnie (Lindsay Sloane - “Bring It On”), he has to face the fact that not only does she have a new boyfriend Ron (Hayes MacArthur) - but since his family have practically adopted her, her and her new guy are constantly around, almost rubbing his face in it. However, after a chance meeting with the stunningly hot Molly McCleish (Alice Eve) who turns the head of every man that sees her – it soon becomes clear that she only wants Kirk. With disastrous dates, bad advice from his friends, and a girl that, not only is a perfect 10, but also has a perfect 10 ex-boyfriend (Geoff Stults); it's not long before Kirk starts to question her interest in him. With best friends and family all in awe of how such a beauty could want him, Kirk has to work out what he wants; what she wants from him; and fight the doubt of whether or not he is even good enough for her...
I should start out by mentioning that myself and romantic comedies never get on too well - so when I saw this film described as such before I went to see it, I was a little worried. However I needn't have been, this film is definitely worth a watch, and as I mentioned at the start - more comedy than romance. Filled with strong believable performances from all of the cast – it caused me to crease up with laughter a lot. Jay Baruchel fits perfectly into these kinds of roles, and Alice Eve was perfectly beautiful and wonderfully personable also. I think where this film was great was that usually in things like “American Pie”, the beauty goes for the geek and it's never really questioned of what she could see in him. I hate to admit it, but I'm sure we've all at one time or another seen a hot guy or girl, and then seen their partner and wondered “why the hell are they with them?”. This film pulls that question off light-heartedly, and without ever really insulting the characters too much themselves. (well aside from the insults from Kirk's best friend Stainer (T.J. Miller – also “How To Train Your Dragon”), although his character does admit he was a little harsh toward the end).
There is a steady stream of solid laughs throughout the film that get bigger and bigger as it goes on. One particular scene involving Kirk and his friend Devon (Nate Torrence - “Get Smart”) working together to get his pubic region shaved to impress Molly, had everyone in the cinema in absolute stitches. You think you've seen all the “ball jokes” done in film, and then something else like this comes along – immature of course, but damn funny! There are also loads of quotable lines, and the introduction of the word 'Moodle' (meaning Man Poodle – used to describe a man a woman won't sleep with, but will take out a few times), which is now one of my favourite words. The film keeps it's funny streak up at least three-quarters of the way through, but obviously the romance and complications in relationships have to come up at some time with this kind of movie; unfortunately there isn't a laugh big enough near the end to compensate for the slight downer after Kirk and Molly argue.
Kirk's friends Stainer, Jack (Mike Vogel - “Cloverfield”) and Devon are also great in this film. Playing the slightly predictable group of friends who all rip on each other, they have a great chemistry together. You don't really see too much of Vogel in this film, but Miller is fantastic as the guy who thinks he knows it all; and Torrence is great as the Disney-film obsessed man (a trend I'm picking up on in my own life) who believes in true love, and sees himself as the Genie character from “Aladdin”.
Kirk's family are also pretty funny, with his mother (played by Debra Jo Rupp - “That 70's Show”) being one of the strongest of the bunch, second only to his pig-headed brother (Kyle Bornheimer - “An Alright Start”) Dylan. It was also fun to see Lindsay Sloane (who played the infamous Big Red in “Bring It On”) as the annoying, controlling and threatened ex-girlfriend, looking as good as ever and playing the part of the bitch to a 'T'. You don't really get to see much of Molly's life and friends, with her best friend and business partner Patty (Krysten Ritter - “Gilmore Girls”) being the only one with mass screen time. Sarcastic, and confused as to why Molly would want Kirk, she has a few comedy moments herself. Also for trivia's sake, it was cool that they got Alice Eve's actual actor parents Trevor Eve (“Waking The Dead”) and Sharon Maughan (“Holby City”) in to play Molly's on-screen parents.
Another massively funny moment included a nice “F-You” speech from Baruchel, standing up to his family and ex-girlfriend – which I have a feeling will become infamous, if not only for the way it was played out afterwards. The music for the film was perfect – although I have to be honest that any film that uses the song “She's So High” by Tai Bachman, is automatically approved in my book. There were a few small continuity issues, but most people won't notice (I'm just a little obsessed with that kind of thing). Costume and location were good, and overall I don't think there was anything that let it down in that – or any – department. It is a predictable teen comedy I guess, but sometimes you need a new batch of jokes, and this film delivers in that area. Pace is great and it doesn't feel too long at all. It's rated 15 in the UK, mainly for the strong language I think – but there are a few sexy scenes in there, (and some cum jokes of course).
Most definitely suitable as a date movie, but I say go see it with your best friends and work out which role you'd fit in. Jay Baruchel may not be a Hollywood hunk, but I swear that afterwards girls will start to fall for him – and Alice Eve delivers more than enough sex appeal for men and women alike. Fantastically funny but with a slight let down at the end, “She's Out Of My League” gets an 8/10 from me.
I hope you've enjoyed this review, I shall return with my look at “Sex And The City 2” and trust me – it's going to be far from glamorous. Flix Out.
Kirk Kettner (Baruchel) is Mr Average. He works a 9-5 job in Airport security, spends his free time with his best friends, and looks-wise - he rates at about a 5/10. Never really moving on from his ex-girlfriend Marnie (Lindsay Sloane - “Bring It On”), he has to face the fact that not only does she have a new boyfriend Ron (Hayes MacArthur) - but since his family have practically adopted her, her and her new guy are constantly around, almost rubbing his face in it. However, after a chance meeting with the stunningly hot Molly McCleish (Alice Eve) who turns the head of every man that sees her – it soon becomes clear that she only wants Kirk. With disastrous dates, bad advice from his friends, and a girl that, not only is a perfect 10, but also has a perfect 10 ex-boyfriend (Geoff Stults); it's not long before Kirk starts to question her interest in him. With best friends and family all in awe of how such a beauty could want him, Kirk has to work out what he wants; what she wants from him; and fight the doubt of whether or not he is even good enough for her...
I should start out by mentioning that myself and romantic comedies never get on too well - so when I saw this film described as such before I went to see it, I was a little worried. However I needn't have been, this film is definitely worth a watch, and as I mentioned at the start - more comedy than romance. Filled with strong believable performances from all of the cast – it caused me to crease up with laughter a lot. Jay Baruchel fits perfectly into these kinds of roles, and Alice Eve was perfectly beautiful and wonderfully personable also. I think where this film was great was that usually in things like “American Pie”, the beauty goes for the geek and it's never really questioned of what she could see in him. I hate to admit it, but I'm sure we've all at one time or another seen a hot guy or girl, and then seen their partner and wondered “why the hell are they with them?”. This film pulls that question off light-heartedly, and without ever really insulting the characters too much themselves. (well aside from the insults from Kirk's best friend Stainer (T.J. Miller – also “How To Train Your Dragon”), although his character does admit he was a little harsh toward the end).
Kirk and Molly seem an unlikely match...
There is a steady stream of solid laughs throughout the film that get bigger and bigger as it goes on. One particular scene involving Kirk and his friend Devon (Nate Torrence - “Get Smart”) working together to get his pubic region shaved to impress Molly, had everyone in the cinema in absolute stitches. You think you've seen all the “ball jokes” done in film, and then something else like this comes along – immature of course, but damn funny! There are also loads of quotable lines, and the introduction of the word 'Moodle' (meaning Man Poodle – used to describe a man a woman won't sleep with, but will take out a few times), which is now one of my favourite words. The film keeps it's funny streak up at least three-quarters of the way through, but obviously the romance and complications in relationships have to come up at some time with this kind of movie; unfortunately there isn't a laugh big enough near the end to compensate for the slight downer after Kirk and Molly argue.
Kirk's friends Stainer, Jack (Mike Vogel - “Cloverfield”) and Devon are also great in this film. Playing the slightly predictable group of friends who all rip on each other, they have a great chemistry together. You don't really see too much of Vogel in this film, but Miller is fantastic as the guy who thinks he knows it all; and Torrence is great as the Disney-film obsessed man (a trend I'm picking up on in my own life) who believes in true love, and sees himself as the Genie character from “Aladdin”.
L-R: Baruchel, Miller, Torrence and Vogel
Another massively funny moment included a nice “F-You” speech from Baruchel, standing up to his family and ex-girlfriend – which I have a feeling will become infamous, if not only for the way it was played out afterwards. The music for the film was perfect – although I have to be honest that any film that uses the song “She's So High” by Tai Bachman, is automatically approved in my book. There were a few small continuity issues, but most people won't notice (I'm just a little obsessed with that kind of thing). Costume and location were good, and overall I don't think there was anything that let it down in that – or any – department. It is a predictable teen comedy I guess, but sometimes you need a new batch of jokes, and this film delivers in that area. Pace is great and it doesn't feel too long at all. It's rated 15 in the UK, mainly for the strong language I think – but there are a few sexy scenes in there, (and some cum jokes of course).
Lindsay Sloane's character Marnie is Kirk's jealous ex-girlfriend
Most definitely suitable as a date movie, but I say go see it with your best friends and work out which role you'd fit in. Jay Baruchel may not be a Hollywood hunk, but I swear that afterwards girls will start to fall for him – and Alice Eve delivers more than enough sex appeal for men and women alike. Fantastically funny but with a slight let down at the end, “She's Out Of My League” gets an 8/10 from me.
I hope you've enjoyed this review, I shall return with my look at “Sex And The City 2” and trust me – it's going to be far from glamorous. Flix Out.
