Movie: Isn't It Romantic
Cast: Rebel Wilson, Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth, Priyanka Chopra, Betty Gilpin, Brandon Scott Jones, and Jennifer Saunders.
Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Duration: 1 hrs 28 min
Story:
New York City architect Natalie (Rebel Wilson) works hard to get noticed at her job but is more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels for the firm's most important client Blake (Liam Hemsworth) than to design the city’s next skyscraper. A cynic at heart, Natalie hates romantic comedies for always raising the expectations of men and setting unrealistic examples for teenage girls. But on one not so fine day, has an encounter with a mugger that renders her unconscious. Waking up her from her coma, she finds herself in her worst nightmare — a romantic comedy — and she is the star. The leading lady then finds that her world has turned upside down and is full of cliches. She now lives in a world of wedding dress shops and cupcake bakeries, New York doesn't stink anymore and she has to compete with 'yoga ambassador' Isabella (Priyanka Chopra) to win over the real love of her life.
Review:
Writers Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox, and Katie Silberman try to revive the spoof genre that was all the rage more than a decade ago thanks to Scary Movie and Disaster Movie franchise. Isn't It Romantic is an adequate homage to the meta-send-up genre. It pokes fun at the cliche montages, gay best friend trope (Brandon Scott Jones), synchronised dancing (which should not be a surprise now that India's talent export aka Priyanka Chopra is part of the movie), PG-13 sex scenes, and the most important of all — single woman affording a luxurious apartment bang in the middle of Manhattan, New York. There are easter egg goodies that come from everyone's favourite of romantic comedies. Be it Pretty Woman or My Best Friend's Wedding. A Julia Roberts cameo in the movie would have been the ultimate cherry on this meta cake!
Rebel Wilson, a comedy force in every right, carries the movie on her shoulders. She uses her not-made-for-romantic-comedy-body to poke holes in the perfect girl persona these movies have been peddling for decades. From stopping a halal cart using her body to running in the slow-motion running to reach the love of her life, Wilson highlights how ridiculous these unrealistic situations are. Her Natalie is likeable and easy to root for in a journey of discovering 'the real love was in front of her all along.'
This is when one starts to see how director Todd Strauss-Schulson gets stuck in the loop of tropes. In an attempt to cram as many meta jibes, he refuses to dig deep and make a punching bag out of these unrealistic life scenarios. He never deviates from the foreshadowing in the first 15 minutes of the movie. At the heart of it, Isn't It Romantic is still a romantic comedy with a very predictable outcome.
Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth, Betty Gilpin, and Priyanka Chopra are the supporting cast of this 'Rebel Wilson Show' who let the leading lady shine while maintaining the charm of their characters.
Verdict:
It isn't all romantic, it isn't all comedy, but it surely is a cute watch for Valentine's weekend.
Critic's rating: 3/5
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 "Isn't It Romantic")
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