Film Review: "Trainwreck" (2015).

"All aboard" for Trainwreck. This romantic comedy film directed by Judd Apatow and written by Amy Schumer. Since she was a little girl, it's been drilled into Amy's head by her rascal of a dad that monogamy isn't realistic. Now a magazine writer, Amy lives by that credo - enjoying what she feels is an uninhibited life free from stifling, boring romantic commitment - but in actuality, she's kind of in a rut. When she finds herself starting to fall for the subject of the new article she's writing, a charming and successful sports doctor named Aaron Conners, Amy starts to wonder if other grown-ups, including this guy who really seems to like her, might be on to something.

In late August 2013, Universal Studios optioned an untitled script written by Schumer that she would also star. The idea of the film was discussed for over two years with Apatow. The original draft of the script was written over a month and half. Schumer confessed that she wrote the script with Apatow in mind to direct. So in her writing of the screenplay, she wrote in things that would attract him to the project. Apatow contacted Schumer to make this movie after hearing her interview on the Howard Stern show. Judd was blown away by how funny and intimate she was while discussing the troubles of her father's illness. In late November, it was announced that Apatow was hired to direct. In early January 2014, it was announced that the film was set for a July 24, 2015 release date. By late May, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, John Cena, Ezra Miller, Tilda Swinton, LeBron James, Randall Park, and Norman Lloyd were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in early August. Filming took place in New York City, New York.

The film stars Schumer, Hader, Larson, Quinn, Cena, Miller, Swinton, James, Park, and Lloyd.
Schumer is recycling the same bimbo act that she keeps doing in her comedy acts. What does work well somewhat is that the movie is elevated by the terrific supporting performances.

Apatow seems stuck in the same rut, managing only to retread familiar territory with each successive film. Despite Schumer's heartfelt performance, the story struggles to find the right balance of comedy and drama. When the first two-thirds of your movie dwell on awkward conversations and table setting, it's hard to engage when things finally start to move. Like it's protagonist, there's charm to the film and it has its moments of biting honesty, but the film stalls as it takes too long to get out of its rudderless station and grab the reigns of its story. It's not just that the film is so flawed. It's that it couldn't be more obvious what those flaws are and how easily they could have been excised. Yes, there are clichés and a few problems, but there's an emotional richness and psychological depth here that avoids the usual sentimentality.

Simon says Trainwreck receives:

Also, see my review for This is 40.