She’s Out of My League Review: An “F” for Funny

I looked forward to seeing this film but worried it would be one of those instances where all the good stuff is in the previews. It’s not. Actually, the funniest parts are not in the previews. Quick synopsis for the people who live in caves and haven’t seen the advertisements.

Kirk (Jay Baruchel), a so-so looking guy with no ambition and no education, scores a date with hot, motivated, rich daddy’s girl Molly (Alice Eve) by being nice. His friends (T.J. Miller, Nate Torrence,  and hottie Mike Vogel) tell him (in several hilarious ways) how it will never work. Her friends, including her hot, pilot ex-boyfriend (Geoff Stults), tell her she’s only dating him because he’s safe. Insecurities on his part start to crop up and the relationship founders. We have to figure out whether or not he can believe he’s good enough – because the girl already does.

Sounds cute, right? It was cuter than I expected, leaning more toward a romantic comedy than a straight gross-em out, throw everything at the audience comedy like the Hangover. The best comedic moments come from Kirk’s dysfunctional family. His parents think he’s a loser. His older brother has even less ambition than him and is marrying his fiancee in a well-thought out Nascar wedding in Vegas. His ex-girlfriend brings her new boyfriend around for family dinner and vacation. It’s a mess. They are hilarious. If I were Molly I would have run for the hills.

There are a few uncomfortable moments. One, which you’ve seen in the previews, is where Kirk and Molly are getting frisky and he gets a little too excited right before her parents walk in. She almost breaks up with him because of how rude he is to her father in that scene. What he has to do to make up with her is worth the uncomfortable feeling. The second revolves around “manscaping”. And not doing it yourself. Can’t say anymore without spoiling, but I heard the following from several men in my theatre, “Dude, that’s just so wrong.”

Photo Credit: Darren Michaels - © Copyright 2009 DREAMWORKS LLC

The film is a solid good time. The actors are funny, they hit their lines with skill, and the main characters have a quirky chemistry about them. The writing and dialogue feels natural, even when the family scenes are so wacked it makes you say a little prayer of thanks for your own screwed up family. Alice Eve is HOT, and I have to wonder if this film will do for her what the Mask did for Cameron Diaz.

The ending could have been cheesy. I was worried it would contain all the usual realizations and cliches. It does, at it’s core. The actors pull off the cheese with panache and believability, so I’m left with the impression this actually could happen instead of thinking – Yeah Right.

I would recommend She’s Out of My League. Comedies have been a bit thin since the Hangover. I love Oscar season as much as the next film school graduate, but they aren’t usually the types of films to give you fits of giggles. You’ll laugh at this movie. You’ll root for the characters. You’ll come out smiling. Promise.

It does earn it’s “R” rating, and I wouldn’t advise children under fifteen. Then again, I’m old school and think 17 and older means 17 and older. Have fun!