Score: 3/5
“Trainwreck” is an over-the-top comedy that is detached from Amy Schumer’s recognizably vulgar comedic spaceship to float somewhere in a strange romantic comedy orbit for some time before getting back on track. The film was funny, but jarring periods of serious plot expansion came as a surprise and did not mesh with the movie’s tone.
Schumer and director Judd Apatow should have picked a genre because “Trainwreck” was painfully vulgar for a romantic comedy but too dark to be a flat-out comedic success. Schumer’s character battles a childhood divorce, a problem with alcohol, issues showing affection, an estrangement from her sister and finally, the death of her father.
The cast of “Trainwreck” included numerous famous actors and several professional athletes, some of whom lingered on the screen a bit too long. Co-star Bill Hader, famed “Saturday Night Live” comedian, has achieved success after leaving television and carried “Trainwreck” as the only constant main character. Several other “SNL” cast members appeared in the film as well. “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe even made a hilarious cameo.
John Cena, professional wrestler known by many to be funny, was excellent in “Trainwreck,” despite a strange personality written for his character. Miami Heat center Amar’e Stoudemire also contributed but didn’t overstay his welcome like the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James. He pressed on as a quasi-realistic character tied to some romantic plot loops.
Schumer brought her familiar comedic routine to the screen as promised, but the hilarity was sidelined by the forced emotional developments of the movie. Schumer’s brand would have fit well into a light hearted comedy, but her vulgar humor did not make for a tactful or insightful dissection of serious emotional issues characters faced in “Trainwreck.”
The movie was enjoyable, but don’t take it seriously. Grin and bear the vulgarity and brush off the melancholy to find the even keel the supporting cast provides. “Trainwreck” is a good start for Schumer in a leading role on the big screen, but she needs to find her strengths and stick to them. Other actors, especially Hader, shined throughout and proved their worth in big movies.
David LaPlante is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Baton Rouge.