Trainwreck, the screenwriting debut by rising comedic star Amy Schumer, is not as subversive or wickedly funny as many have come to expect from her stand-up routines, but it’s still a successful and funny rom-com that breaks some of the genre’s rules while following others. The film fits nicely with director Judd Apatow’s canon: bawdy humor with an emotional core.
Schumer stars as a fictionalized version of herself. On the outside, movie Amy has a carefree, fun life: She lives in New York, works at a magazine, and has all the casual sex she wants. On the inside, she’s a mess. She evades feelings and intimacy with alcohol, drugs and rudeness. This is the part that’s so revelatory: Unlike the dewy-cheeked, barely-there heroines of more run-of-the-mill rom-coms, Amy is fully realized and allowed to be flawed and at times downright unlikeable—a character dimension normally reserved for males.
When she’s assigned to write a piece on Dr. Aaron Chambers, a sports doctor played by an endearing Bill Hader (whose patient and best friend is a very funny LeBron James), even all her bad habits and evasive maneuvers can’t keep the two from falling in love. The film lags during its final half hour, as Amy grows up a little for the sake of love.
Should You See It? Sure, if you’re looking for a movie to see. Otherwise, wait to rent it. —S.Z.
Viewed at Wehrenberg Des Peres 14 Cine