Make the commitment and see 'Trainwreck'
There are so many comic moments in Amy Schumer's “Trainwreck,” it's hard to know where to begin.
There's the conversation between Amy (Schumer) and her co-worker Nikki (Vanessa Bayer) in the women's bathroom talking about which Johnny Depp character they could totally go for — while on the john.
And the scene between Amy and her bodybuilder pseudo boyfriend Steve (John Cena), in which he attempts to talk dirty, to please her, during one of their intimate encounters.
The scene at her apartment with that evening's 'sex du jour,' where upon presenting his, um, 'package,' Amy exclaims “No! That looks like the entire male cast of 'Game of Thrones!' Do you actually have sex with that ... did they live?”
There are those, among many other riotously funny comments.
Yes, these are but a few of the scenarios in the life of a single, young(ish), hedonistic free spirit Amy Townsend. Schumer's screenplay is a wildly ripe slice of life, with dialogue that will have you laughing out loud.
We all learn things from our fathers. As we've all seen in the trailers, Amy and her sister Kim (Vanessa Bayer) are informed by their father (Colin Quinn) that “monogamy is unrealistic” when telling them he and their mother are getting divorced.
He drives his message home with a doll analogy, “Would you want to play with the same doll forever? You have lots of dolls, don't you? What about playing with a doll you never see again?”
Next scene begins 23 years later. Amy has taken Dad's message to heart — partying hard by night with drink and smoke, and making sure she never, ever, spends the night with any of her one-nighters. So, OK, it happens a few times. The first time she wakes in an unfamiliar apartment with the previous night's lover, she asks where she is. He replies “Staten Island.”
Most of us are familiar with the phrase “walk of shame.” Amy's includes a ferry ride — dressed in red top, gold hot pants and gold stilettos — and, because she can't resist, she assumes the Titanic “I'm flying” posture.
Hey, this girl can walk the walk.
By day, Amy is a journalist for a rag called S'NUFF. During a brainstorming session with their editor, Dianna (Tilda Swinton), one of her coworkers comes up with the idea of doing a profile on a sports doctor, Aaron Conner (Bill Hadar). Conner is popular with sports figures because of his masterful surgical skills, and his work with Doctors Without Borders.
Amy makes it clear she is the antithesis of a sports fan when she tells everyone at the table that sports, and people who like sports, are stupid. Dianna decides her position on sports makes Amy the perfect choice for the profile.
During her first interview with Aaron, he learns very quickly that Amy knows nothing about sports, nor can she even name a team — not that she doesn't try.
Amy tells Aaron she prefers the smaller teams, like The Orlando Blooms and about a dozen others with names just as out there.
He asks her to dinner.
She takes him back to his place and seduces him.
Much to her dismay — he wants to spoon later. She tells him he needs to move over and place a pillow between them. Amy can't sleep if she feels him breathing on her.
He rolls over.
Amy: “I can leave.”
Aaron: “No, no. It's so worth it.”
But even free spirit Amy has problems, and some doozies are familial. Due to his failing health, Amy and Kim must move their father into an assisted living facility and sell the family house. Kim and her husband, Tom, played by (Mike Birbiglia) and stepson, Alistair (whom Amy jokes about constantly) are at the house during one of the “sorting through dad's stuff” sessions.
They find rolls of condoms. Kim reads from the wrapper that they're designed for a man's ultimate pleasure — and Amy pockets them. Kim finds a vial of white powder and asks: “Is that coke?”
Amy slips the vial out of her hand, tastes a bit off her hand and tells Kim no — while her face is registering an “oh yeah.” It gets pocketed as well.
We learn Kim and Amy have very different feelings about Dad. Amy unrolls a vintage sports poster of his (no, I can't remember which team), commenting on how much Dad liked it.
Kim says she knows while taking it from Amy and then proceeds to rip it in half.
When the sisters go to lunch at a tea house where Kim's hub and Alistair are having a bonding lunch, Kim refuses a mimosa. Amy guesses her sister is pregnant and doesn't think it's great news.
Doesn't Kim remember: monogamy is unrealistic.
They pay their father a visit at the nice nursing home to tell him about the baby.
Kim storms out when he refuses to acknowledge Alistair is his grandson because the boy isn't blood.
Shortly after Amy receives a text from Kim. She wants to move Dad to a cheaper nursing home. And it is not only time Kim makes such an announcement.
Amy wrestles with her feelings about her father, about Kim's attitude about him, and about Aaron.
She really likes him. He really likes her. Wants to see her again. What's wrong with that?
Schumer shines in this film. Predictably delivering the comedy with flair; she is a stand-up comedian with a regular series on the Comedy station, “Inside Amy Schumer,” after all.
But, I had my doubts about her being able to convey Amy's (the character) inner conflict when it was bared in the serious scenes. Because as much as we might wish otherwise, life ain't nothing but a party.
I can tell you Schumer brings it. When her character is trying to come to terms with the father's death, when her relationship with Aaron hits the rocks, and when she looks into Kim's eyes and tells her: “I'm broken.”
But, she won't be for long. It's like 'they' say, when you least expect it, where you least expect it and from whom, love can come to town.
And love is worth the ride, even though when it arrives, you find yourself to be a bit of a trainwreck. Perhaps particularly then.
“Trainwreck” is, not surprisingly, rated R, and not suitable for young kids or the tween set.
It opens at The Harbor Theatre on Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. and continues through Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m., and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Event Date
Address
185 Townsend Avenue
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
United States