Isn't It Romantic
Starring: Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, Adam Devine, Priyanka Chopra, Betty Gilpin, Jennifer Saunders
Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Natalie (Rebel Wilson), a budding architect (for parking garages because hey someone has to design those right?), doesn’t like romantic comedies. A fact she spends three hours explaining her reasons for to her poor co-workers, Whitney (Betty Gilpin) and Josh (Adam Devine). The most important reason is that it sets women up with unrealistic expectations about love. After a mugging attempt, she is knocked unconscious and finds herself in a romantic comedy, worse yet a PG-13 one, where she inexplicably has attracted the attention of the unfairly attractive Blake (Liam Hemsworth). To her horror, she must learn to embrace the stereotypes if she ever hopes to find her way out of her predicament.
This is a very fun movie and offers plenty for people who enjoy these types of films and those who don’t. The script balances a reverence for romantic comedies while skewering the tropes they often fall into. At times it’s a little bit much and over the top, but it doesn’t stop the film from being charming. The film runs a breezy hour and a half, which really helps its infectious energy.
While it delivers the same message as last year's I Feel Pretty, this film approaches it in a much more genuine way. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson, who directed the similarly genuine and criminally under-seen The Final Girls, understands the genre and is able to successfully tap into what makes these types of movies successful while also making fun of them. This starts with Rebel Wilson, who is able to balance the comedy and drama of this fantasy she suddenly finds herself in. It helps that she has wonderful chemistry with Adam Devine. The duo stole the show in Pitch Perfect 2 and have now perfected their on screen relationship and molded it into something quite charming.
On a side note, I do wish that these movies (such as I Feel Pretty) could find a better catalyst than someone hitting their head. It’s a tired trope even in a movie that is poking fun of them.
While not perfect, it’s sure to be a great film to take your significant other to, with enough laughs and heart for anyone to enjoy.
B