Trainwreck is one of those movies I’m going to sound more down on than I actually am (I think). It’s not a terrible movie, it’s just a very specific movie. It’s a movie in which I found some enjoyment even though it only sort of grazed me on its way to its intended audience. If the praises of the theater were to be believed, this was a comedy to be remembered on the level of Bridesmaids or The 40 Year Old Virgin. But I caution you – film festival audiences are not always to be trusted.
But Trainwreck really is ok! I laughed…some of the time. I’ve been trying to figure out since the credits started rolling why this movie didn’t entirely click with me. I wasn’t the only one. At least a couple people I was sitting near felt the same way. It might have something to do with the preponderance of low-bar sex humor. I generally prefer something a bit more clever, which Trainwreck did tease an ability to deliver from time to time. One of my favorite parts of the movie actually belonged to LeBron James, who plays a fictionalized version of himself who is close friends doctor-to-star-athletes Aaron.
It is worth mentioning that there’s still some final work being done on Trainwreck – it feels a bit long, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some fatty scenes get trimmed down – but this is really a film that’s going to depend heavily on whether you like Amy Schumer’s and Judd Apatow’s brand of humor. Expect to love it or hate it accordingly.
The more interesting bit for me is actually the career trajectory of Judd Apatow. The mid-2000s were Apatow land, as he directed The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and produced Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and Superbad. Since then, things have been a little rockier, but this feels almost like a re-launch for Apatow, hitching himself to rising star Amy Schumer; this is probably her movie far more than Apatow’s.
Next up, Freaks & Geeks co-creator Paul Feig’s Spy in my magical evening of major comedy!
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