A total coincidence and purely unintentional, this edition of Capsule Reviews is a couple of films that brought the similar theme. Friendship. One film between men, and the other between women. However, these two made a different approaches to the theme. While both of the film is cliche, one of the film is painful to watch. Ironically, the film that is painful to watch is rated “PG” while the other film is rated “R.”
Role Models (2008)
with Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J.Thompson, Elizabeth Banks
Wheeler (William Scott) and Danny (Rudd) are friends, and co-worker. While Wheeler is your typical slacker, living from day-to-day with nary a plan, Danny has just got a reality check when his girlfriend, a lawyer played by the more and more likeable Elizabeth Banks is moving out. So, on one particular fuck-up-your-day, Wheeler and Danny find themselves on the other side of the law, destruction of a school property, violating a non-parking area, and assaulting an officer. In order to escape jail, the friends has to relegate into a 150-hours of community service labor, acting as big brothers to troubled kids.
Enter the kids. Fantasy-obsessed Augie (Mintz-Plasse) was assigned to Danny, and foul-mouthed Ronnie (J.Thompson) was assigned to Wheeler. Predictably, the four guys aren’t in for their happiest ride of their life but of course, we’ve seen too much films that deals with this issue and it shouldn’t be that hard to guess the direction of the film. Wheeler and Danny’s friendship are tested, but nothing that a live-action Dungeons & Dragons Role-Playing and a little rock band called “Kiss” couldn’t settled.
My rating: ** / **** Predictable material, although imbued by some nudity that bumped this film into an “R” rating territory but still, nothing special.
Bride Wars (2009)
with Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway
While I adore Anne Hathaway, with her full lips, mesmerizing eyes, and milky skin, I found this film is very painful to watch.
Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) have been best friends since grade school. Ever since their childhood they share the same dream of being married at the Plaza. In June. Throughout this film, the only thing I learn is that Liv and Emma only cares about this dream. Even more than their friendship, and wether they’re marrying the right guys. In my book, that strike number one.
Through a clerical error, although the two friends are able to reserve the Plaza for a wedding in June, they’re scheduled to marry on exact same date and time and obviously, as the title of the film implies, none of the two are willing to sacrifice their dreams. Postponing the marriage or even changing the venue is out of question. Thus begin their devaluation of friendship as the friends are no longer friends but nemesis spending most of the film’s duration to inflict humiliation on the other (and in turn, humiliate themselves. Basically, the overall of this film is humiliating. Not funny as intended, nor satire, just humiliating). This is why this film is painful to watch, and this is strike number two.
My rating: 1/2 / **** After “Rachel Getting Married”, I thought Anne Hathaway’s career is going to head to a new direction. Apparently not, her choice to play in this film is a strike number three. And you’re out. Ms.Hathaway is still a lovely bird to watch though but that wasn’t nearly enough.