She’s living in her uptown world
Amy Schumer’s career has been impressive to say the least. Ever since she started doing standup in the early 2000’s, it’s been an uphill battle to prove she is funnier than any other comedian out there. Landing a show on Comedy Central, a hit nonetheless, cemented her as top talent. Now, Schumer’s new film Trainwreck proves the comedienne is worth the time. Produced by Judd Apatow and written by Schumer herself, Trainwreck follows the character of Amy (clever) as she denies love by sleeping with men all over Manhattan only to fall in love with Aaron (Bill Hader), whose best friend is LeBron James (LeBron James).
From the start of the movie, we learn that monogamy is not a viable option for Amy who is very much like her father. Amy’s sister Kim (Brie Larson) settles down with the safe and already a father Tom (Mike Birbiglia) but Amy decides that life is not for her, often making fun of Tom. In fact, the only relationship she has that is even serious in the slightest is one with Steven (John Cena) who exposes Amy for who she is. The story flows at an acceptable rate for an Apatow film as the director carefully lingers on shots like a sex scene between Cena and Schumer that utilizes about five total camera angles. Said longer shots are a boon for Trainwreck which benefits from the intimate nature. This is a romantic comedy with more sense than outlandish situations.
Amy Schumer does, however, play yet another version of herself. Trainwreck seems like a miniseries more than it does a film. It played out as two different movies where, in the two acts, Amy is promiscuous but by the latter half of the movie, she falls in love with Aaron and that change scares her. More grounded in reality than any sketch from her show, the situations Amy lands herself in throughout feel weighted with more emotion than we’ve seen from her before.
Along with that emotion, we explore character dynamics that make the slower parts of the film more enjoyable. Cutaways to Aaron and LeBron hanging out are the best parts of the movie. LeBron is great in his role as a cheap but caring friend to Hader’s romance based Aaron. Sometimes, though, characters suffer from archetypes and stilted writing. Cena’s Steven is one of them but it’s enjoyable to see him on screen. The same goes for Amy’s friends and boss (Randall Park, Jon Glaser, Vanessa Bayer and Tilda Swinton) who waver depending on the scene. And the ending just sort of happens. There’s no resolution at all.
Should you watch Trainwreck?
I have to admit I’m a sucker from rom-coms. There’s something alluring about two characters finding love in a place they shouldn’t really find love. Amy Schumer and Judd Apatow made a film that won’t exactly revitalize the genre but it does introduce aspects for an evolution. Based on the advertising and late night appearances for the movie, it seems like the crew really had fun with this one. Trainwreck is better a comedy than a romance. See it.
Notes
- Alternate subhead: “Fuck you Amy. You’re not nice.” John Cena everybody.
- LeBron James and John Cena made every single line count. Those two are the real MVPs of this movie.
- Amy plays herself but she redeems herself so is she still herself?
- Pete Davidson played a stoner. No surprise there.
- Tilda Swinton’s character could’ve definitely been played by Allison Janney.
- Future Flash Ezra Miller played the strangest character here aside from Dave Attell’s homeless man.
- The Dogwalker with Daniel Radcliffe and Marisa Tomei needs to be a full movie on the bluray or I’ll make it myself.
- I could watch an entire movie based on LeBron and Hader’s friendship. Spin off a la This Is 40?