Review of Man Up (2015) by Brian C — 12 Mar 2016

You know, there's nothing about this movie that is innovative or game-changing to the old and tired rom-com formula. In fact, honestly, it plays right into those same old cliches that a film like, say, Trainwreck tried, in a heavily flawed manner, to subvert.

But, in all honesty, while giving it the same rating, I found this movie to be considerably better than Trainwreck. And that's not taking anything away from the latter, it's just that it had way too much filler which ballooned the length of the film two a staggering two hours and it wasn't a consistently funny film.

It was certainly enjoyable in spurts, but its flaws kept it from truly transcending the genre it chose to subvert. This movie, on the other hand, keeps it simple and to the point. The film, being 88 minutes long, with credits, makes it so that the film really ends before you're ready for it to be over.

And, realistically speaking, it's better to leave a party early than it is to leave a party when there's absolutely nobody left. Plus, when you have two immensely talented comedic actors in Lake Bell and Simon Pegg working together, then that just makes everything so much easier.

Watching this is really effortless. Some little nitpicks, however, it's weird that they cast Lake Bell, an American actress, in a British role and it's strange that Simon Pegg took top billing over Lake, even though the film is really about Lake's character and her journey from cynic to romantic.

Simon is indeed the bigger star of the two, so I get it, but it's still a film that's, really, largely about Lake's character. It's about the two of them, but Lake's character takes precedence.

But, really, those are two incredibly minor complaints that didn't actually affect my enjoyment of the film at all. Just felt that it was worth mentioning. With that said, you can't really go wrong with Lake Bell and Simon Pegg as your leads.

No idea if they've worked together before, but it almost seems like they've known each other for years due to their chemistry in this movie. I'm not trying to suggest that this is one of the best rom-com movies that I've ever seen, because it is not, but it might probably the most fun I've had watching one in a long-ass time.

And it's not even that the movie is that consistently funny from beginning to end. While the movie was good and enjoyable, I think it was about the halfway point where things really picked up. Once Nancy and Jack head back to the pub and they meet up with Jack's ex-wife.

There's plenty of funny bits in the film, but it really all comes back to Lake and Simon's chemistry. Like I said, the film pretty much plays into all of the rom-com tropes, but the leads definitely take that and they run with it and they do with it what they can, which adds up to a really fun little movie.

Even though the film does use every cliche in the book, I still think the movie is well-written, Jack and Nancy are likable characters with personality. Nancy's cynicism, while not unique, is appropriately explained and Jack is a soon-to-be-divorced man who simply hasn't been able to get over his ex.

Very basic stuff, but at least there's an effort made to give the characters some sort of personality or reason for being the way they are. There's the big 'break-up' and the big romantic gesture at the end to get Jack and Nancy back together.

Again, what you've seen in every rom-com in existence. But, really, this is a really fun movie. Might not be what I would call a really good one, but I had so much fun watching this. This is entirely due to Lake Bell and Simon Pegg.

Those two are great together and I know it's not gonna be your cup of tea, particularly if you're a cynic, and I would consider myself one, but I enjoyed this movie a lot and I would give it a hearty recommendation.