Big Screen Blurb: You Again



I guess everyone has had someone, right? Someone that lingers in the ole emotional memory banks, regardless of how hard you have tried to erase them. That one person who has served as a constant source of pain or embarrassment throughout those dangerously formative years of adolescence. That one person whose head you'd like to shove in a blender. Well, maybe that's little strong, but you get the picture...and you probably wouldn't hesitate to apply Super Glue to their butt crack. But, I digress. You Again brings that frustration full circle.

It's a story about a girl, Marni (Kristen Bell). She was a freaky, little geek in high school and was the brunt of the popular crowd's wrath. The 'populars' were spearheaded by Joanna (Odette Yustman) and they relished every opportunity to showcase the 'cool'-shortcomings of young Marni. But, hey, that's life, right? Marni grows up in all kinds of ways and now, she's a high-powered exec at a big PR firm. The past is the past, right? Wrong. The past is now the present. Joanna has entered the picture yet again and is soon to wed Marni's big brother. Further, the family has fallen in love with the seemingly perfect Joanna, sending Marni into a tizzy of epoch proportions. The flood gates of trauma have officially opened, but wait, there's more. No. No, Ginsu knives are forthcoming, but along comes another dagger of sorts. Enter Aunt Mona, Joanna's aunt and all that remains of her family. Mona (Sigourney Weaver) played a similar thorn-status role with Marni's Mom (Jamie Lee Curtis). Yadayadayada...Marni busies herself trying to ruin the wedding; meanwhile ole Mom deals with Mona as the rest of the family is oblivious to the plight of both.

It's okay; scoring on the sunny side of so-so with a 3.0 Star rating. Sure, it would have been nice to have seen the characters developed with a little more depth. I understand that this was more of a physical comedy than a dramatic comedy, but there was a point to it all and sometimes that point got muddled. I experienced a few moments of befuddlement because of the unclear 'good guy-bad guy' lines that had been drawn. We certainly get that Joanna was a beast in high school and even shows flashes of being that same person as her wedding day nears. It's also clear, however, that she's not that same person. Is she evil or not? We don't really know throughout the bulk of the movie. As such, I didn't know who to root for in the Marni vs. the Bully showdown. Most of that is cleared up by the movie's end, but watching it play out left me, well...jumbled. As for the Mona vs. Mom showdown, it plays out differently, but a little more transparent. All the while, on the up-side, Betty White plays Grandma Bunny, an ultra-veteran, cougar just lurking for her next unsuspecting piece of meat. After all, she's quite hip and is on The Twitter, you know. Of course, Kristin Chenoweth is also good for added comedic relief.

Ultimately, it's about reconciliation. Whether it's a long, lost, foul enemy or a friendly rival who has been a source of anguish, that pain is gone. We can learn from it and grow or continue to allow it to devour us. That's true for both the bullied and the bullies of the universe. Yeah, I liked it. A good cast that gave me a few laughs and it's always great to see Betty! No need to go big on this one though--add it to your queue and and enjoy a cold, rainy day with it.

Yeah--I mowed this weekend and even sealed the deck. I know, I know...I rock. Have a great week!

True...out!