Director: Judd Apatow
Writer: Amy Schumer
Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn
Trainwreck follows Amy, a woman who does not believe in monogamy or love, as she meets and begins to fall for successful sports doctor, Aaron Conners.
Writing
I am not an Amy Schumer fan in any way, but I have to give credit where credit is due. The screenplay for this film is fresh, vibrant, and that is all thanks to Ms. Schumer. She shows her writing chops as she creates tension and successfully writes intriguing character archs for her characters. Although, it does feel a little by the numbers for a romantic comedy with merely a female lead instead of a male. With that in mind, she does a great job of trying to avoid some clichés, while being self aware and embracing others with her trademark Schumer vulgarity. Her screenplay was more impressive than some of the jokes which was surprising. About 2/3 of her jokes soar for great laughs, while others come off as forced and just missed for me. All in all, hats off to a romantic comedy screenplay that would make Woody Allen proud.
Acting & Cameos
The cast is excellent! The chemistry between Schumer and Hader is exceptional and feels organic. The performances of LeBron James and John Cena might be my favorite comedic performances however. Both display quality comedic timing and hold their own with the likes of the comedic giants that are Schumer and Hader. The one performance that stands out the most to me is that of Colin Quinn who plays Amy’s father. He creates depth and a relatable feeling in limited screen time, which is vital to his character and the film. If he plays too funny or too serious, the character loses his true purpose.
Overall
This film has its bright moments that will leave your sides hurting from laughter; and dim moments where crude jokes are forced for no apparent reason. Schumer fans will love the film and those like myself can also enjoy it and at least respect her talent. I will give this film a B-
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