She's Out of My League - Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve.
Like its main character Kirk, "She's Out of My League" succeeds simply because it doesn't try to accomplish very much at all. No, this film is little more than a Jud Apatow knock-off, but it knows it, and wisely sticks to what it does well. It's a simple, raunchy romantic comedy, that's honestly lucky to see the inside of a theater at all (it was shot in 2008), and if there's one thing that's done right in this case, it's the casting. As ridiculous as that sounds, this is one film that's been cast terrifically well. And not just the leads. Sure, it's great to finally see the spindly Jay Baruchel take center stage, and as Molly, the perfect girl who he somehow ends up with, Alice Eve is, as always, stunningly beautiful and intriguing enough to keep it interesting. But it's the supporting roles that are really well thought out here, something that is often an afterthought, allowing a number of young actors the opportunity to shine in what prove to be the movie's funniest parts.
Baruchel is Kirk, a Pittsburgh TSA employee with little ambition and less self-esteem. He's hoping he still has a shot with his ex-girlfriend, Marnie (Lindsay Sloane), even though they split up two years ago. His brother (Kyle Bornheimer) is an insane meathead, his parents are vacuous, and his friends, Stainer (T.J. Miller, the kid who held the camera in Cloverfield), Devon (Nate Torrence), and Jack (Mike Vogel), are all about as together as he is. Molly, on the other hand, is gorgeous and together, and event planner used to dating fighter pilots and NHL players. But when Kirk finds and returns her phone to her, she's taken by his gawkwardness and how safe he is, and the next thing you know, they're dating.
Of course, this can't work, right? Molly's best friend Patty (Krysten Ritter, in another perfectly cast role) doesn't think he's good enough for her, and Kirk's friends and family, especially Stainer, think that, well, she's out of his league. All of this is what leads to the rating system the film's marketers are clearly desperate to have catch on. Kirk, apparently, is a 5. Molly's a hard 10. In theory, you can't go more than two steps above your own rating, no matter how many variables might be involved.
Look, the movie is funny, even though it's kind of disjointed. Baruchel's charmingly goofy, giving hope to skinny dudes the world over. There's lots of solid profanity, and some of the dialogue clicks. What you wish, though, is that Kirk's self-esteem problems were more of a central part of the film, rather than just an obstacle to be overcome in classic rom-com fashion. It's a very tricky line to walk, because one of the film's charms is that it is so full of the rom-com clichés. And when it works, it really does work. But the best romantic comedies have real heart, and that's what's missing here. It's not that it doesn't beat, but it feels mechanical, as though there's a comedic pacemaker pushing it along, rather than beating on its own.
She's Out of My League (2010)
Genre/s: Comedy Romance
Release Date/s: March 12, 2010 (Showtimes & Tickets )
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Company: DreamWorks Pictures
Official Site: Visit
Alternate Titles: Hard 10
CAST & CREW:
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller, Mike Vogel, Nate Torrence, Krysten Ritter, Geoff Stults and Lindsay Sloane
Directed By: Jim Field Smith
Written By: Tim Dowling based on the original script by Sean Anders and John Morris
Produced By:
