A not-so-good-looking boy dating a drop-dead-gorgeous blond is the recipe for the comedy “She’s Out of My League.” We all have seen this before, in the silver-screen and in real life. This story has already been told, but the comedy
A not-so-good-looking boy dating a drop-dead-gorgeous blond is the recipe for the comedy “She’s Out of My League.” We all have seen this before, in the silver-screen and in real life. This story has already been told, but the comedy wins by its raw, crude humor.
Event-planner Molly, played by the stunning Alice Eve, forgets her cell phone in the airport security zone. Clumsy TSA agent Kirk, played by Jay Baruchel, seems to be the only one not drooling over Molly. He promptly offers to drop off the phone at a party the next night, and is stunned when Molly asks him out.
The movie starts off a little warm; the jokes are trivially funny. But each laugh seems to peel off another layer, revealing a little rougher joke. Before the movie even reaches its halfway point, you’ll already have laughed more than during most comedies you watched this year.
“She’s Out of My League” does not quite reach the same raw level as last summer’s “The Hangover,” a brilliant chauvinist, morally wrong and extremely obscene comedy, even for an R-rated movie. But “She’s Out of My League” does a darn good job trying.
Kirk’s friends describe Molly as a “hard 10,” while poor, unattractive Kirk is only a “five.” And a “five,” they say, can only date someone up to a “seven,” otherwise the relationship won’t last. The dating scale plays such a mind game in Kirk that he believes in it, and his insecurities will eventually undermine his relationship with Molly.
Baruchel may not necessarily resemble someone like Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum. He looks more like the runt in the Ben Stiller family. But the boy has charm, is honest and polite. All his character needs is a confidence boost. And confidence, as most women have said all along, is sexy. Take notes, single guys.
If that wouldn’t be true, what Ingrid Bergman, the most beautiful woman to have walked on Earth, would be doing with old rag Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca? OK, it’s only a movie, but you believed in it, and even hoped they would end up together, only to walk away with the same sadness of Rick and Ilsa.
Baruchel became quite a prolific actor in the last couple of years, but for indie-movie lovers he’s mostly remembered for the leading role of “I’m Reed Fish.” The good thing about seeing him as a lead actor in a bigger production is that “She’s Out of My League,” with the crudest humor of the year so far, has a strong flair of an indie movie.
Molly’s sidekick, Patty, played by former model Krysten Ritter, does an incredible job, and we only wish her hilarious character was explored a little more. Don’t let the term “former model” put a frown on your forehead; Ritter is a trained actor who doubles as a musician and songwriter. She plays in the NYC band Ex Vivian, and a couple of her songs are featured in some movies in which she acted.
If Baruchel would be the runt in the Stiller family, then Ritter would be the runt in the also musically talented actress Zoe Deschanel. But while Baruchel and Stiller only have charm on their side, Ritter and Deschanel have it all.
Kirk’s three friends do a good job as supporting cast. T.J. Miller, playing the overly annoying Stainer, is just too funny. Stainer and Patty’s subplot almost takes off, and unfortunately the filmmakers didn’t see the potential. It’s a shame we are left hanging on a possible deeper interaction between the two funniest characters in the movie.
Meagan Rhude and Andrew Sterovich were out on a movie date, and were surprised by the crude humor of “She’s Out of My League.”
“I loved it,” Andrew said. “I thought it was going to be predictable, but it was grossly humorous.”
Meagan also loved the movie. “I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.”
Andrew quickly confirmed it, saying he has never heard Meagan laugh that hard.
The movie is that funny. And despite exploring many sex jokes, the only naked derriere you will see is Baruchel’s (gross!). But just like Andrew said, the movie is grossly humorous.
If there is a message in “She’s Out of My League,” it’s not that ugly guys (and Baruchel is not even that ugly anyway) can score beautiful women. It is that confidence wins more hearts than beauty alone, and this goes for guys and girls.
