Review of They Came Together (2014) by John V — 21 Oct 2014

The realm of spoof films is populated with flicks that simply emulate classic scenes (as if it's funny just copying it word for word). By comparison, They Came Together is a breath of fresh air. Sure, it doesn't quite stick the landing, but it delivers some solid laughs and has it's fair share of r-rated "What the fuck?" moments that make it an easy recommendation.

The story is told by Joel (Paul Rudd) and Molly (Amy Poehler) while they are at a dinner with some friends. In true rom-com fashion they set the stage for almost every trope in the book. The overall plot has a lot in common with You've Got Mail, and I'd say the leads here are every bit as likeable. Paul Rudd has been the go-to guy for likeable comic lead for the past decade now, and Poehler has no qualms about making a fool out of herself. The ensemble is rounded out nicely with the likes of Bill Hader, Jason Mantzoukas, Ed Helms, and plenty of other cameos that keep the viewer delightfully surprised given the sporadic nature of it all.

I'd go as far as saying that the first act of this film is as funny as any classic comedy I've seen. The pace is fantastic and director David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models) takes the Airplane! approach at throwing almost every joke in the book your way in rapid succession. Furthermore, the script is not opposed to having its characters break down the fourth wall and comment on the truly ridiculous nature of the proceedings.

Alas, the film loses its steam during the elongated second act that isn't as clever as we'd like it to be, nor as funny. A joke about a man shitting himself at a party just eats up time and leaves the viewer wondering, "why?" Of all people, you'd think I'd appreciate a good 'shitting yourself' joke! Much like that joke, I think the film loses focus for a bit on what's actually interesting and funny. The film picks up a bit for its third act, but it doesn't quite make up for the middle. Even with the flick coming in at 83 minutes, it still feels a little stretched out.

Despite the less-than-stellar review, I'd recommend anyone to get a group together to watch this flick. It absolutely has its moments and is so freaking stupid in the best way possible sometimes. The first half hour alone is worth the price of admission, and even if it falls short among the likes of Airplane! or Naked Gun, it still stands taller than most of the shit out there that filmmakers pass off as 'spoofs.'.