Where I Watched It: Netflix
English Audio Description?: Yes
Comedy is in such a weird place. We have made a lot of social changes, and it’s like no one knows how to be funny, or what to laugh at anymore. Even a lot of your comedy classics have at LEAST one joke that really didn’t age well. On top of that, most of them aren’t even going to theatres. When a comedy does go, it almost feels like an event.
So naturally, Jennifer Lawrence, who I swear was a child just a few moments ago… and I feel so old now…. Is playing the 30 something woman who is paid to help, um, “break in” a socially awkward teen before he goes to college. Don’t worry, he’s 18. 30 years ago, he probably would have been twelve. Anyone else remember Milk Money? Would that even get green lit today?
But, Lawrence carries the hell out of this movie, which actually requires more physical comedy from her than you might expect. No, she doesn’t give a revelatory performance. She’s already done that. but she gives one of those performances by a regular actress where they handle the material well enough to make a film work, like Sandra Bullock in most of her comedies. It doesn’t have the flow of a natural comedienne, but then again, Melissa McCarthy seems to be sleepwalking through some truly abominable shit these days.
The audio description does a good job with these demanding physical sequences, whether she’s clinging to the hood of a car, or getting smacked in the head. It also does a nice job of highlighting her plight of being poor, and having one of the worst sounding vehicles. Admittedly, I prefer some other comedies more this year, like Barbie and Strays, which both offered some kind of unique take on a viewpoint. This just seems like someone realized we hadn’t made a teen comedy in a while, but wasn’t sure how to go about doing that in 2023. It’s a valiant effort, but some of those inappropriate comedies are funnier, whether we are supposed to laugh or not. But, kudos to Lawrence.
Final Grade: B