Review of Delivery Man (2013) by Jeff B — 21 Dec 2013

A wholly interesting concept wrapped in a halfway decent script, Vince Vaughn's watchable but smaltzy latest nevertheless can't completely deliver the goods when it comes to entertaining moviegoers. We don't deserve this - good material that's THIS close to becoming a good movie. It's like watching a wobbly baby trying to take its first steps with eager watchers saying, "C'mon, you're almost there!" Despite a winning concept, the movie glosses over some serious issues with the warm and fuzzies. This comedy brings all sorts of discussion-baiting topics (drug addiction, mental disability, financial instability) and unsuccessfully tries laughing it all away. Not only do moviegoers get denied some true knee-slapping, but they get denied real drama even though it's been thrown in their face only to be hooked offstage.

In this PG-13-rated comedy, an affable underachiever (Vaughn) finds out he's fathered 533 children through a fertility clinic after 142 of his kids file a lawsuit to reveal his identity.

Thankfully, Vaughn dials down his go-to sarcastic motor mouth shtick for a role that involves a lot of pathos, which audiences don't necessarily associate with the former Swinger and Wedding Crasher. Still, the Delivery Man comes around ... just not enough. Unlike Starbuck, the Canadian flick that inspired it, this fair-weather re-do just can't find the egg of comedy.

Bottom line: Couples: Retreat!