FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL
RYAN: For a Good Time, Call… is a new female buddy comedy which is really this year’s answer to Bridesmaids as far as I’m concerned. Bachelorette wanted to be but failed.
CAROLINE: It’s starts Ari Graynor, whom I’ve enjoyed ever Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, along with another funny chick, Lauren Miller, who is Seth Rogen’s wife in real life.
RYAN: And Justin Long as the gay best friend. He gives a pretty natural portrayal, thankfully; I was afraid he would overdo it with the clichés.
CAROLINE: Yes, I found him rawther amusing. In fact, the whole movie is pretty funny and I found myself tittering in the theater despite it being almost empty. That’s what happens when you go to a 12:15 movie.
RYAN: I thought it was hilarious. I definitely laughed out loud and was surprised at how good some of the humor was. Ari reminds me of a young Bette Midler.
CAROLINE: I can see that.
RYAN: Did you ever see a woman wear more jumpsuits in a movie than she did?
CAROLINE: I noticed, and I loved every one. Her character is both hilarious and vulnerable. I like that this movie showcases a female friendship in a way that lot of movies we’ve been calling bromances lately have done.
RYAN: I loved seeing a friendship portrayed on screen that we could identify with.
CAROLINE: Oh, have you and a friend ever started a phone sex line?
RYAN: Ha, no. But you know what I mean; their friendship was very natural and I loved how it evolved. Not only is their chemistry great, but this movie make New York City look better than any Woody Allen movie has. It also has some parallels to Sex and the City like the reference to Magnolia cupcakes.
CAROLINE: There are also some fun cameos by the likes of Seth Rogen and Kevin Smith.
RYAN: And hello Mimi Rogers as the mom!
CAROLINE: I thought she looked great. This is definitely a small, low budget movie though. It is fairly well made, though I felt like some of the editing was a little choppy. The pace wasn’t always smooth.
RYAN: I loved how R-rated the humor was, but always tastefully played off and almost cutesy. You know if this had been an Adam Sandler comedy, it would have been disgusting.
CAROLINE: Yes, we should definitely acknowledge the handling of a sexual topic in a relatively mature way. The sex jokes abound but they are actually funny and clever, unlike in those stupid poop-and-fart-joke movies.
RYAN: This movie made me want to own a pink princess phone.
CAROLINE: Don’t you already have one?
RYAN: OK, yes, I do.
CAROLINE: I know you so well.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: I was totally tickled by this film and happily so. I don’t often laugh out loud in the theater, even at broad comedies that you know you are supposed to laugh at. This one cracked me up quite a bit. I’d almost like a TV series spin-off with these characters; the film left me wanting more.
CAROLINE: It’s very cute and lots of fun, but LBH, it’s more for the gays and the girls… though straight guys may find it sexy. I applaud female-driven films, and this one’s written by 2 women as well, which makes it all the more realistic in the portrayals of friendship. It’s a fun little movie that is probably won’t see a wide release but would be fun to catch on TV some time.
