I need to preface this review with a word about its star Any
Schumer. I’m not a huge fan of hers. My first exposure to her was her Comedy
Central special and I thought she was funny enough but nothing spectacular. I
didn’t watch her show INSIDE AMY SCHUMER, mostly because I heard the type of
comedy it was and that wasn’t my thing. Then her decision to weigh in on things
political drove me from watching her. I tend to find celebrities who use their
platform to speak on political things a turn off. I tell you this because you
should know that going in to watch this my expectations were low. Thank
goodness the movie exceeded any expectations I had. I thoroughly enjoyed the
movie.
Schumer stars as Renee Bennett, a young woman who works at
compiling statistics for top notch make up company Lilly Leclair. Working out
of a basement in Chinatown with one other co-worker, tech savvy and socially
unskilled Mason (Adrian Martinez), Renee is problematic at best. Plagued with
self-doubt and major insecurities, wishing she looked more like the models at
the company who employs her, Renee exists with no boyfriend and spends plenty
of time with her two girlfriends Vivian (Aidy Bryant) and Jane (Busy Phillips).
Always dreaming of being beautiful and desired one rainy
night Renee, after watching BIG and seeing the wish sequence, runs to a nearby
fountain where she lives and tosses in a coin wishing to be the things she
wants to be. When it doesn’t happen she’s left discouraged.
The next day while working out at Soul Cycle on a stationary
bike, she falls off her bike and is knocked unconscious. When she wakes she
looks down and sees herself as the beautiful object of all men’s dreams,
completely changed from who and what she was. What she doesn’t know, but we the
viewers do, is that this is all in her head. She still looks exactly the same.
But with this altered appearance in her head it provides her with an
overabundance of confidence. And it is that confidence that eventually pushes
her forward.
She starts by getting the job of receptionist at Lilly
Leclair, a major achievement since most look like they came off the front page
of glamour magazines. Her positive attitude and self-assurance attract the
notice of Avery Leclair (Michelle Williams) who seeks her advice on a new
product line intended for customers who shop locations like Target. Lilly
Leclair (Lauren Hutton) herself finds Renee refreshing.
A chance encounter with a man at the dry cleaner leads to
romantic entanglement for Renee as well. Ethan (Rory Scovel) is stunned by her
confidence and finds her attractive as she is, but she doesn’t realize that.
The two become involved and spend time together. One of their dates, one of the
funnier spots in the film, they end up at a bar with a bikini contest going on.
Renee thinks she can win it hands down and Ethan tries to stop her but she
enters. The result is better than you would expect.
Renee has a meteoric rise where she works as well as in her
social life. Her newfound “beauty” also has a downside as she begins treating
her friends the way they were treated by the model types before. With her
newfound confidence also comes the self-indulgence and better than those
beneath me attitude she once hated. As expected all of this will change at the
worst possible moment as she reverts back to her old self. Will she be able to
cope? Will things remain the same? Will she retain her self-confidence? Watch
and see.
The main thing that lends itself to the humor here is
Schumer herself. She’s not ugly which you would think the character as written
would call for. She’s always been attractive but not that rail thin model type.
That plays to good effect here. While it may sound sexist to say had she truly
been ugly and playing this role it would have lost the humor and become an
insulting joke to any actress in the part. The combination of Schumer’s looks
and acting ability combine to make a character that we care about instead. You
find yourself rooting for Renee’s success from the start of the film and hope that
she will recall the treatment she once received as it progresses.
The laughs are plentiful in this film. After reviewing
BLOCKERS I was afraid this one would also resort to the gross out or
inappropriate style humor so prevalent these days. It never happened. The
supporting casts excels here, in particular Scovel who is low key enough to let
Schumer shine in their time together onscreen and Williams whose portrayal the
beauty queen with the high pitched squeaky voice is hilarious.
As I said I was pleasantly surprised by the film. It had no
political motives, encouraged women to gain confidence in themselves and who
they are and will have you laughing while it accomplishes that task. There
isn’t much more one could hope for in a comedy. I have a feeling I’ll be
watching this one again every so often. I had that much fun.
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