David Schwimmer, former star of the television sitcom, Friends, directs this goofy, sentimental tripe about a London loser with a paunch who attempts to make up with his former, pregnant fiancé, whom he dumped at the altar. Chock-full of film clichés, catchy music samples and very thinly drawn characters, the major standout is the performance delivered by its star and main protagonist, Simon Pegg. In fact, the film is built around his particular shtick. All the other acting, save a nicely underplayed performance by Dylan Moran as Pegg’s best friend, is relegated to “type” delivery.
But there’s not much to work with here. If the movie was written (and performed) as an all-out farce, given the talent involved, it might hjave played beautifuly. As it is, aspects of it, like London’s Hyde Park, for instance, although nicely captured, is featured in an oddly bucolic fashion giving the film a flimsy sentimental touch. On the other hand, Schwimmer and Pegg’s brand of humor is definitely that of the young and, frankly, immature adult crowd, so I suppose the runaway naiveté comes with the territory.
by Marlin Tyree | Source: Material Entertainment/Gold Circle Films
13 Jul 2007 2:09 PM | Submit Comment
