Review of Why Him? (2016) by Justin P — 20 Jan 2017

I saw a headline for a review for this movie that read "Why Him?...more like Why This Movie?". After seeing it, I agree with that headline. I didn't care to see this movie, but it was date night with my fiancé and we wanted something lite. Lite is exactly what we got.

The only appeal this movie had going for it was the Cranston/Franco combo. It does sound good on paper. Franco's liberal Californian "Pineapple Express" silliness bunts heads with Cranston's conservative "Walter White". The two did good with what they had to work with. They movie did not fail because of them, it failed because it was a lazy script and a story that has been seen before but in much better form.

It is one of those movies where all of the best parts are shown in the previews. So we all ready know the family comes to visit their daughter at college in California and learn she has been dating a eccentric young millionaire who has an unusual lifestyle, no filter, and tries way too hard to earn the respect of his girlfriends family. That's it. Nothing more. Now this wouldn't be too bad if the movie was hilarious and made me laugh, but it didn't. Most jokes tanked and other times the movie didn't take any chances to be funny. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is good example of a sloppy script but provided enough energy and laughter for me to like it. This movie had no energy.

I recommend to pass on this one until it is free on Netflix.