‘She’s Out of My League’ Brings the Funny (3/5 Stars)

She's Out of My League

It doesn’t take a genius to take one look at the trailer for She’s Out of My League and think that this is a paint-by-numbers romantic comedy with raunchy tendencies. Since the movie stars Apatow-acolyte Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder) the comparisons to similar films and characters are even more apt. Don’t get me wrong, the plot it about as formulaic as it gets, and some of the characters are thinly veiled chariactures of other well-known actors. Among the guys that Baruchel’s character Kirk deals with is his abnoxious brother Dylan (Kyle Bornheimer, channeling Seth Rogen) and a sensitive married friend played by Nate Torrence (Get Smart, channeling Jonah Hill as Matthew from Forgetting Sarah Marshall). Heck, the couldn’t even get an original nickname for the Sean William Scott (Stiffler, Wheeler) ripoff character “Stainer.”

So, if you’re looking for originality this ain’t the place. But you still might have a good time.

Baruchel’s character works aiport security but has dreams of being a pilot (can you guess what the final scene is yet?). He’s the “awkward nice guy” in his circle of friends and pines for an old girlfriend who is more a part of his own family than he is (the girlfriend conveniently works at the airport, too). Into the plot steps Molly, an event planner played by the very gorgous Alice Eve. She leaves her phone at the security checkstop, and sooner than you can say “meet cute” Molly and Kirk are dating, much to the shock of their friends. Along for the ride are Molly’s loudmouth friend/coworker Patty (Krysten Ritter) who along with Stainer (T.J. Miller) do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to one-liners and dialogue (Stainer plays in a Hall and Oates tribute band, a device that’s worth a laugh or two right there).  Add in Molly’s ex, a handsome pilot (yes, he’s a pilot) played by Geoff Stults (The Break-Up), and you can probably predict how Act Two progresses.

Truth be told, nobody cares if the plot is original or not — as long as the film brings the funny. And She’s Out of My League ain’t half bad in that department. There are a couple funny set-pieces involving a not-so-dry-hump and group-shaving of genitals that are pretty effective. And Kirk’s disfunctional family works well in a couple of scenes as well. Along with some occasionally snappy dialogue and this film is far better than anyone could, or should, have expected.

She's Out of My League

Alice Eve and Jay Baruchel

I’m not sold on Baruchel as a leading man. He does good work in the dry-hump scene but doesn’t transcend his awkward character. Alice Eve on the other hand has plenty of spunk to go along with her perfect body (except for one part, according to the movie…). This is a role that would have been played by Elisha Cuthbert five years ago and Eve has the potential to be a star if she picks her projects well (unlike the aforementioned Girl Next Door…). So, perhaps, you’ll be happy you saw Alice Eve in that little movie she made before she became a big star. We’ll see.

Directed by first-time helmer Jim Field Smith, She’s Out of My League is not a hall of fame raunchy comedy. But if you’re a fan of Baruchel or looking for a few laughs this spring this could be a good time at the movieplex.

Alice Eve and Krysten Ritter

Geoff Stults

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 3:33 pm and is filed under Jay Baruchel, Reviews, She's Out of My League. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.