A likable enough movie that really stands out with its focus on characters and real human emotions. I’m already a bit Marveled-out this Summer, so to watch a huge Summer success that actually deals with a believable human situation is really refreshing.
What Works: Nobody is just a simple stock character, and the movie keeps finding ways to spin tired cliches (the bad-guy frat boy, the nagging wife, the clueless cop, etc.) into new directions. Rose Byrne isn’t much of an actress (I suffered through all five seasons of watching her stare into space on Damages), but she’s never been better than as the prototypical “wife” character who’s actually in on the mischief, and in many scenes driving it. Zac Efron’s mildly sociopathic frat-leader’s also not quite as black-and-white as he could have been.
What Doesn’t: Some of the audience went in expecting more rancid, over-the-top “shenanigans” and may be disappointed that the film focuses as much as it does on quieter character dynamics.
What I Would Have Done Differently: Have a great Memorial Day folks!