She’s Funny That Way (2015) Review!!

Synopsis – On the set of a playwright’s new project, a love triangle forms between his wife, her ex-lover, and the call girl-turned-actress cast in the production.

My Take – This Peter Bogdanovich directed film is exactly the kind of film that isn’t made any more; a manic, silly comedy helmed by an ensemble cast made for adults. The film adheres to the wry comedic style of Woody Allen, who rigorously churned out films like these in his earlier days, and a style that Allen continues to play with with more subtlety. With a breezy eighty minute run-time and a comedic cast who seem to be having a great time with one another, this is a film that can skate by and leave you with a goofy grin on your face as the end credits roll in. This mixed-genre film was ultimately a pretty clever one – and ultimately an enjoyable watch. The entire concept bases itself upon accidents and spontaneity, when pondered upon idly, may seem random, but from the perspective of the end interactions, it’s coherent, total movie-making stuff, something which may click with audiences of all ages, and although the basic point of the film – prostitution, may seem deviated-from-norms at first, it’s actually not. Its clearly visible the style of Wes Anderson (who has also produced this film) has been embargoed in this film especially the light-heartedness. The story follows Hollywood dreamer, Isabella “Izzy” Patterson (Imogen Poots), who has become a prostitute in order to make ends meet before her big ticket kicks in. Her regular client Arnold Albertson (Owen Wilson), a very popular Broadway director, a filthy rich, has been gifting $30,000 to escorts for their services & to get their life moving in the right direction. One Grecian evening, Arnold Albertson, finds himself in the precarious position of casting Izzy in the play, even though he knows her from her career as an escort.

The female lead of the stage production is his wife Delta (Kathryn Hahn) and her ex-lover Seth Gilbert (Rhys Ifans), which leads to a surreal series of inter-connected, comedic situations. Adding to this bizarre narrative is a playwright named Joshua (Will Forte) begins to fall in love with Isabella, despite dating Jane Claremont (Jennifer Aniston), a bitter and hot-tempered therapist, who Isabella has been seeing. This collection of characters make this a film that consistently moves and never slows down. The persistent weaving & connection of each and every character in the film is what largely makes the film such a good time. While the characters may often be despicable, the situational humor mimics the sort of awkwardness which is often missing from comedy films now days. The character development—Derek to Arnold, Izzy to Isabella, Piccadilly to Oh-my-Billy, doctor/client privilege, private detective to private detective father, judge to perverted, stalker judge, so on and so forth—is basically the integral part. It wouldn’t really have thrived. Every character has a particular, distinguishable performance associated, which defines him/her. With Jane it’s the frantic, tormented, and egocentric psychiatrist, who’s only good at being rude, illogical, and stupid, quite frequently so. With Delta, it’s a lively, bold, but frighteningly mad when it comes to revenge (remember the prolonged kiss, pretty awkward, yeah?) Arnold’s humanitarianism is the root of all social affairs—the trauma everybody faces, who are apparently distinct, but mutually affecting each other and each others social behaviors. He’s generous enough to call escort services for call-girl, and to her own pleasure, not his; it’s not the “sex” he’s looking for, although it being an eventual outcome of his endeavors wouldn’t be bad at all. His help, consequent adventure into the restaurant to have peppery-ass Indian food, (which was actually supposed to be mild), nuts-to-the squirrels, squirrels-to-the-nuts, and his own nuttily-charming and positive self, bring down the intellectuality of Midnight in Paris itself. And although only remotely related, his ventures into absolute philanthropy, coupled with the fact that he is a Broadway director, gives elevation of the meager plot of being somebody for no absolute reason. His good deed, however, originates from cheating, secrecy, covering-up, and ends up with the victims-of-his-revolutionary-cause showing up at his desk, appraising his deeds of compassion, altruism, and spending romantic, self-free nights. And these victims, unfortunately, become in deliberate snitches by Arnold’s wife’s overhearing—and the difference in interpretations of the exactly same dilemma is the root to absolute chaos.

She gets that he calls prostitutes, but not why he does so. This, along with Seth’s mocking smile, taunting-presence, and playboy-calls to Arnold’s wife is something supernatural, so to say. There’s a “naughty” aroma, per se, and that aroma brings a very funny smile that you just can’t help. One of the biggest problems I’ve seen with R-rated comedies, they are rarely well structured, for example films like Get Hard and The Hangover sequels (films which I actually love) have jokes that make us laugh out loud, but their is line of crass & vulgarity which is usually crossed in order to generate such laughs. This film has its own crass but in a way that isn’t over-the-top or in love with the idea of making the viewer uncomfortable based on situations involving bodily fluids or intercourse. The cast here feels right at home. We have low-key performers that go under the radar far too often and we have seasoned veterans trying their hand at the personalities they accentuate the best. Moreover, though, everyone feels like they’re enjoying themselves. I love Imogen Poots! I loved her weirdly attractive accent trying to copy the Brooklyn accent but with her British tongue it came out so thick. So sexy & adorable. Owen Wilson is his usually funny self with his hesitant personality character. Kathryn Hahn, Jennifer Aniston and Will Forte have smaller but very enjoyable roles. Its good to see Rhys Ifans try out comedy, he is a blast in every scene he appears in. Well the appearance of Quentin Tarantino was unexpected and nice though. On the whole, ‘She’s Funny That Way‘ is isn’t a film to take very seriously, nor is it a film that gets hung up on vulgarities and stupidity. This is a smartly written film, one that really is elevated by the performers. Give it a watch!