My Super Ex-Girlfriend Review

"My Super Ex-Girlfriend" reviews

Movie

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-10-06 22:47:09

Rating

1.5/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

How can a movie with such talented performers and such an original concept seem so entirely like a re-tread? Help them Superman!

Story

A guy who usually doesn't have luck with the ladies, Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) has finally found the perfect girl. Egged on by his buddy Vaughn (Rainn Wilson), Matt pursues the mousy and innocent-looking Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman) after the two meet on a subway. But Jenny has a few secrets--and what Matt doesn't know in this case, can hurt him. See, Jenny is really G-Girl, a superhero, and although it's a side most superheroes don't show, G-Girl is a bit possessive and essentially has a borderline personality. So, when Matt wants to dump her so he can go out with his quiet and cute co-worker, Hannah (Anna Faris), Jenny, er, G-Girl goes ballistic. She unleashes her superpowers on Matt and unsuspecting Hannah, doing things like throwing a shark through his window while they're making out, tossing his car around, immature things like that. What Matt doesn't do is obey the cardinal rule: Never break up with a girl when she's holding a knife--or when she can throw you through a wall by blowing on you.

Acting

This should be Luke Wilson's moment to shine, and he seizes it. He's had little chance to break away from his goofier-looking and more popular brother Owen and has never carried a movie as much as this one. It's perhaps his meatiest role, in which he gets to show a restrained comedic side as well as a dramatic, angry and perplexed side. Although it's a typical romantic comedy plot, the storyline allows for more reach because of the absurd nature of the jealousy by G-Girl's arch nemesis Professor Bedlam, played perfectly by Brit comic Eddie Izzard, as well as the persistently bad advice from Matt's friend Vaughn, played by scene-stealer Rainn Wilson (TV's The Office). Rainn is a definitely a talent to watch out for. Unfortunately, Thurman is the biggest disappointment. She's exciting only when she rekindles her Kill Bill persona but is mostly outshined by the cute and fun Anna Faris, who's so naively brilliant in the Scary Movie spoofs.

Direction

Expectations would have to be high if you have director Ivan Reitman on board, the guy behind such classic comedies as Animal House, Ghostbusters and Dave. Perhaps that's why it's so disappointing--and so very familiar. The comic moments are retreads from the past. Sure, we've seen the odd moments where mortals make it with super-human characters--Superman II, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie--and every once in a while the character with super powers gets a bit peeved and goes off the deep end. The best contribution Reitman makes is to keep the over-the-top comedic aspects in check. He doesn't have the actors play it for laughs. But if you look at past history, female superhero movies don't seem to do well at the box office (Elektra and Catwoman, anyone?), maybe because guys don't like to take dates to see movies about women who will kick their butts. And, guys will be cringing in their seats BIG time when Jenny is trying to analyze the real meaning of the color of a rose that she just got. ''Red means that you're in love with the girl. Of course, I'm not trying to pressure you.'' Ugh! Just take the flower.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 1 1/2 stars.

Copyright © CinemaSource 2006.

Movie

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-08-03 00:00:00

Provider

MyMovies

Review

As far as most movies are concerned, superheroes are invariably the good guys who fight for truth, justice and the American way. But what if a superhero had a few character traits that their adoring public don't get to see, such as being needy, jealous and more than a little bit psychotic? Welcome to Matt Saunders' nightmare…

 

It all starts for architect Matt (Luke Wilson) when he hooks up with mild-mannered art gallery assistant Jenny (Uma Thurman). She's a little quirky, but he hangs on in there to see how things will pan out. However when it becomes clear that she's just not for him Matt tries to let Jenny down gently. She doesn't take rejection well and promises him that he'll regret his decision, something he takes all too seriously, seeing as Jenny is actually the alter ego of G-Girl, an all-powerful super-heroine - and this is one seriously angry all-powerful super-heroine! If you thought a few weepy phone calls from an ex were bad, Matt has to contend with his car being launched into orbit and a Great White Shark being thrown through his new girlfriend's (Anna Faris) bedroom window. But he is soon offered a solution by Professor Bedlam (Eddie Izzard), G-Girl's sworn arch-enemy…

 

A clever and fresh take on the superhero genre, "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'a woman scorned'. Everything is done with a firm tongue in cheek, and Uma goes totally psycho on poor Luke thanks to Don Payne's ("The Simpsons") witty script. One of the funnier films of the summer, this is perfect fare for anyone who likes their comedy with a slightly menacing edge.

Copyright © MyMovies 2006.

Movie

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-07-28 15:00:24

Provider

MRIB

Review

Ivan Reitman's boy-meets-superwoman fantasy will no doubt prove to be the talk of the summer. Or at least it would have been 20 years ago when films like this passed for cutting-edge and audiences were less demanding than they are today.

As it is, My Super Ex-Girlfriend is no more than adequate. A shame because the film's stars – Luke Wilson (Matt) and Uma Thurman (Jenny) – are as impressive as we've come to expect. Luke is a lovable, laid-back sort who has precious little luck with the opposite sex until, prompted by his best friend, Vaughn (Rain Wilson), a swaggering ladies man, he introduces himself to a frumpy librarian, Jenny, on the underground.

Jenny, however, is not what she seems. She is, in fact, a celebrated superhero G-Girl, whose staid appearance belies her awe-inspiring powers. Trouble is, she is also, as Matt slowly comes to learn, a complete nutter; controlling, manipulative and averse to being dumped. Matt, don't do it, you want to shout. But, lo and behold, he does.

All of which suggests there's little to criticise. Alas, Reitman's film takes so long to find its feet, choosing, instead, to set up Matt and Jenny's relationship, that by the time Thurman gets around to ridiculing Wilson, you've long abandoned interest in the premise of the film. Also, crazy as Thurman is, she's not quite mad enough.

You'll see worse films this year, of that there is no doubt. It's just that, for all its possibilities, My Super Ex-Girlfriend isn't super enough.

Copyright © MRIB 2006.