The Film
Everyone loves a catfight. It's the human equivalent of a trainwreck. So is the rom-com You Again.
You Again disguises itself as a good old-fashioned catfight. It also disguises itself as a comedy. It really isn't much of either. However, it does have a very special appearance by Hall and Oates. How many movies can say that?
As for the other 100 or so minutes of the movie, audiences are supposed to believe that Kristen Bell used to be a nerd with a horrible existence. Yes, that Kristen Bell. Of course, she went from the ugly duckling to the swan. You know the drill; it's one of the most frequently played cards in the rom-com game.
However, despite all of her achievements, her character Marni is still plagued by her high-school tormentor (Cloverfield's Odette Yustman). Mainly, it's because said mean girl is marrying into the family. It sounds like a fairly harmless plot and it is -- except to the careers of everyone involved.
And that's quite a cast list. Bell, by far, is not the biggest name in this bunch. Jamie Lee Curtis puts on her best/wackiest Freaky Friday face, with Sigourney Weaver, Victor Garber, and Kristin Chenoweth all in tow. Also, Betty White is thrown in presumably because she is currently the go-to grandma. Sorry Betty fans, but all of the Snickers bars in the world can't revive this one.
At best, You Again is a made-for-ABC-Family movie. At it's worst, it's predictable, forced and way too familiar. A more appropriate title would have been, You Again?
The Picture
Wedding-themed movies can be a mixed bag, but you can usually count on a little sparkle. You Again is no different. Of course, the impressive image on this 2.40:1 transfer isn't going to make you forget about the actual movie. However, you have to appreciate how everyone looks so lifelike. Skintones are particularly impressive, as are some of the wedding details, like dresses, flowers, and other foliage.
The Sound
Despite the presence of a DTS-HD Master Audio track, the audio here is as forgettable as the movie. The dialogue sounds fine, but the entire movie is pretty front-heavy. There are a few musical moments in the movie, most notably a dance-off (no, really) and a "rap" sequence (no... REALLY). That allows the speakers to breath a bit more. However, it's so darn cringe-worthy, you probably won't notice the extra oomph.
The Extras
You Again's special features are fleeting and fairly forgettable. "Following Flickman" is seven minutes of cast and crew gushing over each other, intertwined with a few stunts in the movie. There's bloopers and a minute of "Ask the Cast" nonsense. The only extra really worth watching is the "Funny or Die" segment, where Bell, Yustman, Weaver and White spend three minutes giving us the catfight we were hoping for in the movie.
Final Thoughts
Don't be fooled by You Again's good looks and lengthy cast list. This film is a rehash of other wedding-themed rom-coms (think Bride Wars meets My Best Friend's Wedding) -- and not in a good way. If you must proceed, do so with caution. Also, consider a rental before adding this to your Blu-ray registry.
Product Details
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