There’s something particularly sad – and I’m talking poor little orphan girls in the snow with teary eyed kittens levels of sadness here – when bad movies happen to good actors. Now I’m not saying with 100% certainty that She’s Funny That Way is going to be a complete trainwreck, but judging by all the tired and played out “screwball comedy” genre tropes that get nailed in just this two-minute trailer, I have about as much hope for it as Jennifer Aniston winning an Oscar this year (too soon?).
Starring an all-star, probably all-regretful cast of Owen Wilson, the aforementioned Aniston, Imogen Poots, Will Forte, Kathryn Hahn, Rhys Ifans and even Michael Shannon in some sort of cameo for some reason, She’s Funny That Way is the first film in 13 years from veteran director Peter Bogdanovich. It was originally being developed as a comedy vehicle for the late John Ritter in the late 1990’s before the actor’s untimely death in 2003 caused it to be shelved. Now it’s been resurrected again, but with all of its dated humour – and don’t forget that throwback voiceover! – it feels like it it might have been better received had it actually released in 2002. Or 1992. Or never.
Maybe I’m wrong though and audiences actually want to feel like they’ve time travelled into the past, smack bang in the middle of a Woody Allen-like comedy but with less mumbling and more clumsy head bashing. Personally though, I just don’t think this looks funny that way or any way.
A married Broadway director (Owen Wilson) falls for a prostitute-turned-actress (Imogen Poots) and works to help her advance her career.
She’s Funny That Way – which was previously titled Squirrel To The Nuts – is scheduled for release in the US on April 10, 2015.
Last Updated: January 27, 2015
