Trainwreck
Dustin Chase
The best thing about Judd Apatow’s latest vulgar comedy is that he works with new actors outside his usual crew. Indie talent like Bill Hader (The Skeleton Twins), Ezra Miller (Perks of Being a Wallflower) and Swinton (Snowpiercer) rarely seen in mainstream are given full character reinventions in Trainwreck. Amy Schumer’s first leading role will make her an instant box office draw because of the demand for females in comedy. She co-wrote the script and from the conversation at SXSW, says there are facets of her own life within the film. You want to root for this film and even Apatow for creating so many parts for women within the script. However, the formula for Trainwreck is like all the other Apatow films and my criticism of his long windedness remains. Perhaps the final version will be a bit tighter.
Amy (Schumer) works for a magazine that is interested in sleazy tabloid eye catching covers, the more ridiculous the better. Her tough European editor Dianna (Swinton) wants Amy’s negative sarcasm for an article on a doctor who works exclusively with high profile sports stars. Reluctant to meet the subject, Dr. Aaron Connell (Hader), Amy finds all the qualities in a man she has been searching for. She must face her own immaturity in her professional and personal relationship and set aside the drugs, drinking, and endless sex partners if she wants to mature and proceed with Dr. Connell.
There are serious and heartfelt moments towards the end, but finding a scene without vulgarity or toilet humor is hopeless.
Knowledge and interest in sports is actually quiet necessary for a lot of the jokes in the film. Apatow is smart enough to realize that having LeBron James and Tony Romo in speaking parts, will offset the disinterest males might have buying a ticket to a mainstream comedy about a woman. Bill Hader is quite fantastic, again in something to challenge the type of roles he plays and further thrust him towards household name status. For all its attempt at originality Trainwreck, is still that same formula of an immature adult putting down bad habits and maturing through a relationship. There are serious and heartfelt moments towards the end, but finding a scene without vulgarity or toilet humor is hopeless.
At one point Schumer compares her tampons to the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones which got quite a chuckle in the midst of a dramatic moment. Apatow and Schumer are very plugged in to social media and celebrity gossip, which like sports, if you are unfamiliar with say, the backlash towards Anne Hathaway after her Oscar win, you might not understand some of the jokes. Films in the Apatow collection are for a certain crowd, catering to those who want obvious comedy without much to take with you once you exit the theater. I did enjoy the p unusual scene between Schumer and Miller and the clever one-liners from Swinton. By the time Schumer breaks out in dance I was looking at my watch and ready to walk away from these characters.
Final Thought
While I did enjoy a female in the lead of an Apatow film the formula is still exactly the same.