Plot
A young man's recently deceased girlfriend mysteriously returns from the dead, but he slowly realizes she is not the way he remembered her.
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 6.2/10 (1,033 voted)
Critic's Score: 65/100
Director: Jeff Baena
Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly
Storyline
A young man's recently deceased girlfriend mysteriously returns from the dead, but he slowly realizes she is not the way he remembered her.
Cast: Aubrey Plaza -
Beth Slocum
Dane DeHaan -
Zach Orfman
John C. Reilly -
Maury Slocum
Molly Shannon -
Geenie Slocum
Cheryl Hines -
Judy Orfman
Paul Reiser -
Noah Orfman
Matthew Gray Gubler -
Kyle Orfman
Anna Kendrick -
Erica Wexler
Eva La Dare -
Pearline
Thomas McDonell -
Dan
Alia Shawkat -
Roz
Allan McLeod -
Supermarket Stocker
Paul Weitz -
Mr. Levin
Michelle Azar -
Mrs. Levin
Jim O'Heir -
Chip the Mailman
Taglines:
Some girls just want to watch the world burn.
I can't say exactly what is the appeal of Aubrey Plaza, and yet when I
see her name attached to something it makes me want to see the movie.
Though I have to admit, with the way she explained the film on The
Daily Show, and the clip they showed with Dane DeHaan, Molly Shannon,
and John C. Reilly, I was really tempted to just skip this movie. If
just because, while DeHaan I think is a good actor, as well as Anna
Kendrick and Cheryl Hines who are in the film, seeing Molly Shannon or
John C. Reilly in a film is like seeing Eugene Levy or Denise Richards,
it automatically creates a red flag. Now, to find out whether the red
flag is deserved or not, read below.
Characters & Story
To clear her head, a young woman named Beth (Aubrey Plaza) decides to
go on a hike by herself; which unfortunately leads to her dying from a
snake bite. But after only being buried for a day or so, she returns
much to the delight of her parents Maury (John C. Reilly) and Geenie
(Molly Shannon). However, with her rising from the dead comes the fear
of what people may assume if they found out. Especially Beth's
boyfriend Zach (Dane DeHaan) who, after sharing their grief with him
getting shut out, is acting like a fool because he thinks he saw Beth
in their window. Leading to a story in which Maury is doing his best to
keep his daughter alive, and hidden, after her resurrection, despite
all signs pointing to her needing to be put back in the ground.
Praise
Though certainly not hilarious, the film does have its moments when it
will make you chuckle. For it has very goofy moments, like watching
Beth tumble down a hill with a stove on her back. But, outside of a few
laughs and giggles here and there, I don't think there is much else to
praise.
Criticism
If just because this film is not only bleh, but it lacks potential.
For, as noted in my The To Do List review, Aubrey Plaza has no business
being the star of a movie. A strong supporting character, like how
Melissa McCarthy was in Bridesmaids, yes, but the star? Absolutely not
because her off putting presence never rises above being like an
intriguing gimmick. Something which seems destined to make her that one
odd character which makes you go "What the hell?" whenever she appears
and says something. For, as of this point in her career, that is what
she is good at, and in the film she tries to be your everyday
girlfriend and she seems to be forcing herself so hard to seem
convincing as a regular old love interest, that it makes her off
putting demeanor rise to dangerous levels.
Then, on top of that, you have a cast and story which tries to mix
horror elements with odd comedic moments, which honestly rarely even
works for veterans of the Horror/Comedy sub-genre like Child's Play and
Nightmare on Elm Street when Robert Englund was Freddy. So imagine an
actor like DeHaan, who seems more made for dramas than comedies, being
mixed with comedians like Plaza, Shannon and Reilly who are the type of
comedians who really seem like they should never be within the first
3-4 names listed on a film.
Overall: Skip It
The film isn't funny, it isn't scary, there is no thriller element, and
the overall production seems like someone's capstone project for their
Bachelor's in Film. Which is why I'm saying to skip this. For while,
despite what I'm writing, it doesn't make me think less of Plaza or
DeHaan for being involved, and how they performed, it just reinforces
how some of the actors in this movie have no business being the stars
of a movie. Maybe a TV show, but at this point in their careers they
don't have what it takes to command your attention, get you to laugh,
and send you home with a smile on your face.
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