A tightly wound father discovers his daughter is in a relationship
with a loud, obnoxious software billionaire who plans to marry her. COMEDY
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Why Him? (2016)Directed by John Hamburg
Written by John Hamburg and Ian Helfer Starring James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Zoey Deutch, Megan Mullally, Griffin Gluck, Keegan-Michael Key, Cedric the Entertainer |
I don't usually go the movies to see films like Why Him? This time was an exception simply because of how much I enjoy Bryan Cranston's work. I feel like after his Breaking Bad success, he could probably be more selective about the projects he chooses to be a part of. Why Him? is a predictable comedy that has a few genuine laughs, but fails to bring anything new to the table. It's your basic "Dad vs. Boyfriend" movie that ends exactly how you think it's going to end.
James Franco and Bryan Cranston don't really mesh. Maybe that's the point, since they're supposed to be at odds with one another, but I never bought into any sort of chemistry. Honestly, I felt that Megan Mullally stole the show as Cranston's wife Barb and Keegan-Michael Key did the same as Franco's bizarre butler/fighting instructor Gustav. The cast did a decent job, though the script just felt like the same recycled shtick from decades of flawed comedies. It takes way too long for the laughs to get going in this film, though once they start, there are a great deal of hilarious and memorable moments. I won't say I was disappointed, as I didn't have any expectations to begin with. Why Him? definitely isn't worth the price of a late-night ticket, but it might be worth a 1:00 matinee. |
