I should preface this by saying I’m not a big fan of romantic comedies; they were the movies that never really resonated with me because they seemed so formulaic and didn’t really go out of their way to catch you off guard. So I’m pleasantly surprised that Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad and Bridesmaids) has produced Trainwreck, which definitely stands out from the crowd with its honest script and genuine performances across the board.
The movie’s opening scene does a great job of establishing Amy (Amy Schumer) as a promiscuous magazine writer who does her best to maintain a commitment free lifestyle. However that quickly falls away once she begins writing an opinion piece about charming sports doctor Aaron Connor (Bill Hader) who is her polar opposite in many ways. Hader’s awkward character is endearing and strikes up a romance with Amy who decides to take a chance on him and deviate from her usual short-lived flings. The two seem perfect for each other but their insecurities stand in the way of this being an easy relationship.
The supporting cast is great as well, notably LeBron James who makes his film debut, plays himself and is an absolute scene-stealer anytime he is on screen. Sports fans can look forward to the multitude of inside jokes revolving around his career and his friendship with Aaron is played up for laughs as he portrays what can be best described as an overprotective and sensitive individual. Similarly, Amy’s relationship with her sister Kim (Brie Larson) is a great dynamic that highlights her deeply rooted insecurities as they struggle to care for their aging father. I should also mention that there are a lot of great cameos throughout the movie that are worth being on the lookout for. John Cena has a brief role as Amy’s boyfriend Steven and has what I think is safe to say perhaps one of the most memorable sequences of the entire film.
Trainwreck is not without its faults. While the majority of the jokes are vulgar in nature which aptly suits the film’s distinct voice, a few of them go a bit far as the many gasps of horror I heard around me can testify. Ultimately, this just might come down to a matter of taste but it can appear that some moments are purely thrown in for shock value rather than true hilarity. Furthermore, sometimes it feels that Aaron’s inhibitions aren’t fully fledged out. For instance, other than fearing that he might be too meek in comparison to some of Amy’s exes, Aaron doesn’t really have much going against him. Then again Amy shines throughout and is put in the spotlight.
But Trainwreck entertains more than it disappoints and paces well. Much of the humor is topical and there is a lot of brilliant physical comedy that you would come to expect from Schumer and Hader including a scene where the latter performs surgery on LeBron. The writing is relatively good but the pair do a splendid job of elevating the material when needed. It’s strange to say but despite its crude humor, Trainwreck has a lot of heart and there are moments in the relationship that should be very relatable to modern audiences.
In the end Trainwreck stands on its own two feet and delivers in spades when it comes to getting the big laughs. The movie possesses an endless amount of quirky and inspired moments, be it a group of surgeons at work whilst listening to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” or a hysterical sight gag involving John Cena. Some might find it too raunchy but most, I suspect, will have a great time watching Schumer and Hader bounce off one another. Personally, I can say that Trainwreck is greater than the sum of its parts and is a step in the right direction to restoring my interest in the rom com genre.
Grade: B+
The movie’s opening scene does a great job of establishing Amy (Amy Schumer) as a promiscuous magazine writer who does her best to maintain a commitment free lifestyle. However that quickly falls away once she begins writing an opinion piece about charming sports doctor Aaron Connor (Bill Hader) who is her polar opposite in many ways. Hader’s awkward character is endearing and strikes up a romance with Amy who decides to take a chance on him and deviate from her usual short-lived flings. The two seem perfect for each other but their insecurities stand in the way of this being an easy relationship.
The supporting cast is great as well, notably LeBron James who makes his film debut, plays himself and is an absolute scene-stealer anytime he is on screen. Sports fans can look forward to the multitude of inside jokes revolving around his career and his friendship with Aaron is played up for laughs as he portrays what can be best described as an overprotective and sensitive individual. Similarly, Amy’s relationship with her sister Kim (Brie Larson) is a great dynamic that highlights her deeply rooted insecurities as they struggle to care for their aging father. I should also mention that there are a lot of great cameos throughout the movie that are worth being on the lookout for. John Cena has a brief role as Amy’s boyfriend Steven and has what I think is safe to say perhaps one of the most memorable sequences of the entire film.
Trainwreck is not without its faults. While the majority of the jokes are vulgar in nature which aptly suits the film’s distinct voice, a few of them go a bit far as the many gasps of horror I heard around me can testify. Ultimately, this just might come down to a matter of taste but it can appear that some moments are purely thrown in for shock value rather than true hilarity. Furthermore, sometimes it feels that Aaron’s inhibitions aren’t fully fledged out. For instance, other than fearing that he might be too meek in comparison to some of Amy’s exes, Aaron doesn’t really have much going against him. Then again Amy shines throughout and is put in the spotlight.
But Trainwreck entertains more than it disappoints and paces well. Much of the humor is topical and there is a lot of brilliant physical comedy that you would come to expect from Schumer and Hader including a scene where the latter performs surgery on LeBron. The writing is relatively good but the pair do a splendid job of elevating the material when needed. It’s strange to say but despite its crude humor, Trainwreck has a lot of heart and there are moments in the relationship that should be very relatable to modern audiences.
In the end Trainwreck stands on its own two feet and delivers in spades when it comes to getting the big laughs. The movie possesses an endless amount of quirky and inspired moments, be it a group of surgeons at work whilst listening to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” or a hysterical sight gag involving John Cena. Some might find it too raunchy but most, I suspect, will have a great time watching Schumer and Hader bounce off one another. Personally, I can say that Trainwreck is greater than the sum of its parts and is a step in the right direction to restoring my interest in the rom com genre.
Grade: B+
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