You Again Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW: YOU AGAIN

09/23/10

SYNOPSIS: Successful PR pro Marni (Kristen Bell) heads home for her older brother’s (Jimmy Wolk) wedding and discovers that he’s marrying her high school arch nemesis (Odette Yustman), who’s conveniently forgotten their problematic past. Then the bride’s jet-setting aunt (Sigourney Weaver) bursts in and Marni’s not-so-jet-setting mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) comes face to face with her own high school rival. The claws come out and old wounds are opened in this crazy comedy that proves that not all rivalries are forever.

REVIEW: If you were an abuser or an abusee in high school, then you might be able to relate to this rendition of a high school nightmare for poor Marni (Kristen Bell) and its sequel, as she puts it. In this tale, Marni is the abusee and Joanna (Odette Yustman) is the abuser who fails to realize the long term consequences of her behavior. High school for Marni described in one word would be yuck. It was a torturous and traumatic time for Marni thanks mostly to Joanna. The sequel aspect comes as later on Marni finds out that her brother is going to marry none other than Joanna. What a predicament! Is it high school all over again for Marni, or will she stand up to Joanna and confront her nemesis face to face? Talk about awkward situations. This movie reminds me of Mr. Woodcock and of Just Friends. It resembles Mr. Woodcock in that a loved one is marrying a hated one and Just Friends in that an ugly duckling leaves the nest, becomes successful and goes through a makeover only to come back home to face the fears of the ugly duckling years. Only problem with this movie compared to those two is that those two were better. This movie is delightful and all, but it seems like a cookie cutter production. It has good laughs but no really good outbursts of laughter like you might find with those other two. What helps keep the movie afloat besides the entertaining story is the incredible cast. Starting with three masters of the trade, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, and Betty White, plus a side dose of Victor Garber, you’ve got yourself a decent movie by default. Now add the popular Kristen Bell and the becoming more popular Odette Yustman and the movie has that much more appeal. They all performed nicely with their roles. And then there’s Kristin Chenoweth who plays Georgia, the highly sought after wedding planner. Kristin has an uncanny ability to light up the scene.

Even though this film is missing a certain je ne se qua, it does have some good lessons. Being a bully and/or holding onto grudges can be bad for you. Another lesson is that everyone deserves a second chance and in this movie there are more than enough second chances being requested. On a personal note, there is strong reference made to the song Kiss On My List by Hall and Oates. I found that to be interesting because that was the very first 45 record I ever bought with my own money as a kid. What a co inky dink. I probably just gave a major clue as to my age, but that’s okay. If you don’t know what a 45 is, ask your parents. Geez. Needless to say, the music used in the movie is pretty good. Director Andy Fickman does a good job with kid related or kid oriented movies having directed such projects as She’s the Man, The Game Plan, and Race to Witch Mountain. This latest work fits nicely in his collection. Although I wouldn’t recommend this as a first choice at the theater, it’s still a cute movie.