Watch You Again
Watch You Again movie
- IMDB rating: 5.30
- IMDB votes: 1
- Release Date: 2010
- Category:
- Comedy /
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!! This video is hosted on Megavideo. You need the latest flash player to watch this video. Download, install and reboot your browser. User: editor-530Added: 27 September 2010
Vote: 4
The Return of Veronica Mars
My wife and I fell in love with Kristen Bell's rendition of VeronicaMars and were dismayed when the show went off the air. UPN understoodtheir audience, but when it merged with WB the new network was cluelessas to who actually watched the TV series.
After the end of the series we have looked for vehicles in the moviesthat would showcase Kristen Bell's talents. Why she chose a series ofbad movies, I don't know, but "You Again" is finally a film vehiclethat shows off her acting ability.
Several points make this a stellar film for her. One, even though sheis a young woman in her thirties, she can still pull off a teenagerole. So the flashbacks of her her as a nerd in high school cut betweenthe accomplished woman in PR works.
Second, she really flows well between characters. She has a variety ofmannerisms she uses to portray of geeky teen age girl to the demeanorof a successful career woman.
Third, the main theme of Veronica Mars was her ability to take revenge,and this film runs with the same theme which Kristen Bell plays sowell.
We thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was a great chick flick to take mywife on a date to. The timing and delivery of all the actors wasexcellent. The pacing of the editing never lagged. I recommend everycouple to see this movie for a light hearted and funny night out.
Added: 26 September 2010
Vote: 3
My response to Richard Roper's review of You Again
Richard Roper is a fool if he thinks that this movie is a fail. One ofthe basic things you learn when becoming a reviewer is to take intoconsideration the motives behind why a studio would produce a movie andwho the targeted audience is. This movie is not meant to have you onthe edge of your seat not knowing what twist will be next or scare youor even make you question your existence; it is meant to be a light 1.5hour escape into a fun place where happily ever after exists. The moviedoes accomplish this and the theatre full of girls and their moms andolder couples, who I saw the movie with, were laughing aloud throughoutthe whole thing. So could it be possible that the humor was targetedtowards us and not towards Mr. Roeper, heaven forbid! This movieactually did more than I expected and I was surprised by how touched Iwas by the way I connected to the women in the film, but I'm guessingyou have to be a 20 year old girl and not a 50 year old man to feelthat connection.
I must also say that was floored by how convincingly Kristen Bellplayed the dorky Marni. My greatest fear going in was that such anatural beauty and charming person would be totally unconvincing as asocial reject and thus ruin the movie. The opposite is true as herperformance is completely endearing and very believable. I think thatis what makes this movie so awesome!
All in all You Again is a wonderfully casted and directed movie whichmade laugh and left me feeling a sense of satisfaction and empowerment.I highly recommend this movie to every person who ever went to highschool because the feelings, although exaggerated for film, are honestand ring very true. I plan on adding this movie to my DVD's as anawesome girls night in or rainy Saturday afternoon addition.
10/10 not because it ground breaking or a master piece but because itdid everything that it promised and more!
Added: 5 October 2010
Vote: 2
Lame Again
Hollywood strikes out again with this flat,uninspired meant-to-becomedy. It wastes a stellar cast on lifeless "shenanigans" that we'veall seen played to better effect elsewhere. Kristen Bell is cute, butthat's about all I can say for her efforts: she's really not quitethere when it comes to carrying a movie on her shoulders. SigourneyWeaver and Jamie Lee Curtis, pros that they are, fare much better.Sigourney still looks great for her age when made up well - in the poolscene, though, she looks much older. Betty White is, of course, veryfunny - but I'm starting to feel if she takes one or two moreuninspired roles like this she's going to wear out her welcome. Theending scene with a certain former co-star of hers is the singlefunniest moment in the whole film. As for Kristen Chenowith - I guessshe is best on stage, because she really doesn't seem to work well inany film I've ever seen her in - her character here is super-annoyingand unbelievable.
User: John DeSando (jdesando@columbus.rr.com)Added: 30 September 2010
Vote: 2
A past not worth revisiting
Although You Again is billed as a comedy, it is not a side splitter; itis more a comedy of manners, where social ideas were fleshed out in19th century drawing rooms and at wedding festivities in the 21st.
While the dialogue is not witty or particularly insightful, writer MoeJoline and director Andy Fickman have a conceit worth deconstruction:How do you come to terms with the past when it deals with the bully ofyour high school nightmares engaged to your loving brother? Marni(Kristen Bell) is the sister, and Joanna (Odette Yustman) is thefianc?e.
As Marni campaigns against Joanna on behalf of her brother, it becomesclear that the past, while as powerful as ever in the present, cannotbe dealt with easily, nor can it be changed at will. As if the tensionbetween these young women (class of '02) were not enough, Marni'smother, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Joanna's Aunt Ramona (SigourneyWeaver) are rivals from high school who also need to deal with theirfailed friendship.
So while the plot parallelism is obvious and a bit labored, the ideathat each generation repeats the challenges of the previous is worthexploring, just not with a mediocre script.
Added: 3 October 2010
Vote: 3
You Again? Another paint-by-numbers comedy
** out of (****)
Okay, if Hollywood continues to churn out movies that seem like theycould be made in a few days, that's how my reviews are going to sound.I mean seriously, this is just ridiculous. "You Again" may be the mostmediocre film I've ever seen and is so paint-by-numbers that literally,I guessed every scene in my head. If you're going to see a movie, thewhole point is to not guess what happens. If you can predict literallyevery piece of dialog, didn't you already see the movie? "You Again" ispretty much like every film out there and while it has its fun moments,those are two far and between to make up for such a lousy film. If thismovie didn't have Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, or Betty White,this would be an easy "4" or "3". Andy Fickman, you're lucky that I'm asucker for A-listers!
"You Again" revolves around sweetie pie Marni (Kristin Bell, who'spretty much in every formulaic comedy these days), who was taunted byhot-shot Joanna (Odette Yustman) in high school. Surprise, surprise(sarcasm), Joannna is marrying Marni's brother, which causes tensionbetween the two. Oh no, what will happen next? (sarcasm).
See, this sort of movie would have been interesting had it not beendone to death. Since there are so many revenge comedies, it gets oldfast. Although, sometimes a clich?d concept could turn into a uniqueone with a few adjustments. Nope. No adjustments. No twists. Just thesame film you've seen over, and over, and over again. Yes, theperformances might have been good but if you have an abysmal script anda lousy direction, does good acting mean squat? Unfortunately not.Although, one going into an Andy Fickman film shouldn't be expectinghigh art because after all, he did give us "The game plan" and "Race towitch mountain".
Overall, "You again" is a perfect title for this film. It makes theviewer utter "You again?" after seeing this movie and realizing it'sanother paint-by-numbers comedy. The performances may be good, but thescript and the direction are lousy. The cinematography is nice, I'llgive it that, but I rather have quality than a little pretty package.You Again? *starts groaning*.
Added: 28 September 2010
Vote: 2
Crap Again...
Wow this year stinks in the movie industry! You Again is a rom-comchick-flick with an unfunny predictable storyline filled with clich?sand overplayed scenes. There was potential for a good movie here butthe dialogue reads like the writer spent all of about two weeks writingit, while stoned. What probably should have been the funniest scene atthe wedding rehearsal dinner, when the women declare open war on eachother, was uncomfortable. The audience sat in near silence during thisscene with only the sound of an occasional uneasy chuckle or nervoustitter.
In the end I am not sure what was harder to believe - that these twoenemies forgave each other, not that the bully needed to be forgiven,or that you can get cheez whiz out of a wedding dress...
The funniest scene is the very last one, and you would have to be atleast 50 years old and a fan of the Mary Tyler Moore show to rememberwhy!
Added: 2 October 2010
Vote: 2
You Again ! Well Done Comedy with Life Lessons!
What could have been a tawdry reliving of past negative sophomoricexperiences is transformed into a delightful multidimensional range ofemotions and full character development.
Andy Fickman could have done it on the cheap, and skated on the veneersurface of the characters, but he thoughtfully and painstakinglybrought out the complete development of real people and we were allowedto see the nascent of those actions.
Remember all of those unforgettable characters in high school, or doyou really want to ? Not all of them were pleasant, and Marni OliviaOlsen/MOO( Kristen Bell) has the scars and the crosses to prove it. Anoutcast in high school Marnia is now a successful executive and movingup the corporate ladder. But, the engagement and future wedding of herbrother have rekindled some old hostilities and she wants themresolved, any way possible.
Brother Wil(James Wolk) is engaged to the lovely,talented andphilanthropic Joanna(Odette Yustman). The same high school cheerleaderwho used to torment Marni/MOO.
Not convinced of her change of heart, Marni crusades to expose Joannaas a shallow and vindictive gold-digger. But this also exposes Marni'sdarker side, and she becomes a little Joanna.
Apparently, high school rivalries are generational, and GailOlsen(Jamie Lee Curtis) and Joanna's Aunt Ramona( Sigourney Weaver)also had issues at the same small town high school, during theiradolescence.
So, the situation becomes multi-complex ,and the claws come out, butwho is correct, or judgmentally right ? You'll have to decide in thisvery entertaining look at love and revenge. Sometimes , you just haveto resolve your conflicts with tenderness and mercy. Look for Tim(KyleBornheimer) as the rejected suitor of Joanna, I'm sure you've seensomeone like him before. Grandma Bunny(Betty White) has a small part,so don't look for much screen time from her. She is hilarious.
8 stars for vetting out the growing. process.
Added: 7 October 2010
Vote: 2
Good Weaver and Curtis, only so-so for bully survivor story
Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis are always worth watching andthey don't disappoint here. Weaver has a particularly poignant line inthe redemption scene (not really a spoiler, these movies always have aredemption scene, don't they?)
As someone who was bullied back in the day, I was pleased that KristenBell's character does get an apology. However, given the situation andwhat we know of the characters at that point, it doesn't feel sincere.
Spoiler alert:
Again, as someone who was bullied, I was very disappointed with how thevictim's family reacted when finally confronted with how bad thingswere for Bell's character. (One exception, Jamie Lee's facialexpression immediately following the revelation.) However, there is nota single line in the script of anyone coming to the victim's defense.("Wow! I didn't realize things were that horrible for you back then. Iam so sorry. I should have done something.") I'd like to think that ifthis scenario happened in my household, I would have confronted theperpetrator and said, "How could you?" and perhaps encourage the groomto rethink the wedding. The groom doesn't really do anything toacknowledge what his bride-to-be did to the sister he supposedlyprotected all those years ago either.
But no. There's the predictable slapstick cat fight and the happyending. End of spoiler.
This is just supposed to be a lighthearted romantic comedy. It's not adocumentary or a therapy piece. However, those who were bullied andwere looking for a release may find their hackles are raised slightlyinstead. It does have some cute moments, so see it for that and ignorethe rest.
Added: 11 October 2010
Vote: 2
Funny & Cute
I just don't get the bad and nasty reviews on here. We saw the movielast night and thought it was very funny and cute. This is not a filmto be taken seriously it is supposed to be farce and it was nice tounplug from the real world for two hours and just have some fun. JamieLee and Sigourney where great in their respective roles and the rest ofthe cast was good especially the young actor who played "Tim" he wasgreat and the ending is funny. If your looking for some "I don't wantto think for a while" time this is good afternoon flick to sit back,eat popcorn and watch. You may want to wait until the DVD comes out butthis is not in anyway a bad movie. Considering the violent trash 3Doverload crap Hollywood has been vomiting onto the screen this pastyear "You Again" was a breath of fresh air.
User: DICK STEELAdded: 24 October 2010
Vote: 2
A Nutshell Review: You Again
Imagine your worst enemy who had tormented you for at least four years,on the verge of becoming an in-law family member through a marriage.You Again is a comedy that explores just that, where Kristin Bell'sMarni, who had spent her entire high school life under the bullyingradar of Joanna (Odette Yustman, last seen here in films like Unbornand Cloverfield), realizes her one time nemesis is poised to become hersister-in-law. So the question now is, do you intervene at thisjuncture to throw the wedding off by telling everyone what a meanperson she is, or do you adopt the forgive and forget approach?
As humans, the latter is always a challenge, and the former opportunityjust too great to pass up, now being in the position to memorablyderail someone else's marriage plans, even if it means having tounintentionally hurt one's family member (Marni's brother Will, playedby James Wolk) as a collateral. It's revenge of the nerd, bitchycat-fight style, made worse when one doesn't acknowledge the past inthe hopes of starting a relationship afresh, which is not what theother party would desire, setting up a series of sequences that areplayed out for laughs, even though they are as predictable as they comein making life miserable for others.
But it's the idea and the thought behind the film that seems a littlebit more interesting, as it's really quite relatable since in life wedo step on the toes of others, as do others on ours as well. It's whatyou do with being emotionally terrorized that matters, and the besteffect is to turn that into positive energy to transform oneself forthe better, rather than to keep on regretting and wanting to right thewrongs, but not sure how to go about doing so. The advice of course isto champion oneself to be better rather than to focus on destroying theother party and before you know it, you become what and who youdespise.
The highlight of the show turned out to be the veterans who demonstratethat age is no factor when it comes to having fun. The likes of BettyWhite, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver lend gravitas to the youngadult leads of Bell and Yustman, and I wonder if the careers of thelatter will be as promising to live up to that of the former few. Ofnote is the pairing and rivalry of Jamie Lee Curtis' Gail, Marni's mum,and Sigourney Weaver's Ramona, Joanna's aunt, that states theinter-family rivalry goes beyond one generation, and in true Romeo andJuliet fashion, the coming together of two families bring on somecomplications which provide an avenue for comedy as each pair want togo one up against the other.
Director Andy Fickman, who has helmed a series of family friendly filmsfor Disney such as The Game Plan and Race to Witch Mountain, continueshis services here for Disney and I suppose his being chummy with DwayneThe Rock Johnson meant the one time wrestler has got to appearsomewhere in the film, even as a cameo, and cranks up a surpriseappearance of a singing duo toward the end which by Hollywood standardsis what's expected of a romantic comedy.
Added: 28 October 2010
Vote: 2
It doesn't quite take off
I was really looking forward to seeing 'You Again' because it has aninteresting idea that apparently has been done before, in a similarfashion, if not an identical one. And I was pleased, to a degree. I wasslightly disappointed with the results. For a movie about former highschool rivals, there isn't a lot of resentment going on. I realize thatthese are characters that have changed since high school, but come on,in a movie like this, I expect a lot more arguing, and a lot less civilconversation going on. The dancing lessons scenes are not the least bitcredible. The movie doesn't deliver the goods until after the weddingtakes place, when the four ladies start fighting. After that, the movieslows down again. When the four ladies aren't at each other's throats,there's isn't any reason to root for anyone. When they're being kind,perhaps they're being a little too kind. A good cast is almost wasted.
**1/2 out of ****
Added: 8 November 2010
Vote: 2
Nothing special.......
OK i am not gonna watch this movie again. its boring but picks uptowards the end. Based on lame and pathetic idea that what happens withyou in high school king of stays with you and may haunt you again inyour life. very little laughs, you may learn from this movie that youshould learn by your past and everyone deserves a second chance.
great female cast but not a good story or screenplay at all. Jamie andSigourney were nice, Kristen and Odette were OK, but Betty White stealsevery scene she is in and i kind of liked that guy Jiimy , Kristen'sbro in this movie lolz. You Again is often diverting, and has enoughelements of realism in it to make you recall your own high school days(for good or for ill), but it doesn't overcome the limitations imposedon it by its script, or a story that we've all frankly heard before.story is very predictable and there is nothing else very special aboutthis movie. should have been much better.
Not recommended but you have nothing else to see then wait for the DVDand see it when you are bored and need some cheesy flick. not for metough.
Added: 26 November 2010
Vote: 1
Why the Low Rating?
Sure You Again isn't Oscar-material, but I don't think it was intendedto be. But if you watch it keeping in mind that is a light-hearted, funsummer comedy for the family, you will appreciate it, mainly because ofthe strong and hilarious female cast. Sigourney Weaver, Jamie LeeCurtis, Kristen Bell and Odette Yustman all shine on-screen in theirown ways, yet complement each other so well. The chemistry of the castcontributes to the film's charm. I was especially impressed withKristen Bell because this is the first comedy/chick-flick I'vepersonally seen her in, and she was really cute and funny! She had alot of charm, great comedic timing, and I kept thinking in my head howgorgeous she is all throughout the movie. She's a really versatileactress. The veterans, Sigourney, Jamie Lee, and Betty White were allhilarious as well. If you're looking for a fun, positive family filmwith lots of laughs, you've found your movie.
User: jhaveymoviereviewsAdded: 26 September 2010
Vote: 3
Needs Less Drama and More Betty
Wait For DVD Critical Perspective: D+ Personal Perspective: D 20/100
"You Again" is a movie that reveals how insignificant high school iswhen looking at the big picture and how important it is to let the pastbe the past. This film tells the story of the struggles of highschooler Marni (Kristen Bell) and her arch nemesis Joanna (OdetteYustman) when they are thrown into each other's lives one again whenMari discovers that Joanna is about to marry her older brother Will(James Wolk). As their rivalry resurfaces, Marni's mother Gail (JamieLee Curtis) and Joanna's Aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) realize thatthey both went to high school together as well and ended theirfriendship on bad terms. Betty White is also in the film playing thecharacter of Marni's Grandma Bunny
The Good: The cast contains a lot of big Hollywood names and is thebest part of the film. Kristen Bell is a very likable actress and isvery good at what she does in all of her films. Her portrayal of Marniis very good and is a role that she really hasn't played before.Usually she is portrayed as the stuck up chick opposed to the nerdychick in this film. The performances of both Sigourney Weaver and JamieLee Curtis are very funny and prove that they are good on screentogether. Lastly the comical genius of Betty White owns the screen whenshe is present. As usual all of her jokes can be broken down into aseries of very funny one-liners. There are also various celebritycameos in the film that may surprise you. The best scene in the film isabout one hour into the film and takes place in a dance studio whereall of these talented actors just relax and have fun. If the rest ofthe film followed suite this would have been a very funny movie.
The Bad: The film is very excruciating to watch for the first hour andshows slight improvement after the scene mentioned above. The moviefails to go anywhere and has a lot of unnecessary scenes including theending segment of the film. The film takes itself way too seriously byincluding numerous vary dramatic scenes that take away from the funthat the film could have had. Movies like "The Proposal" knew theirplace in their genre and ran with it to succeed while this film doesnot know its identity. Lastly, the incorporation of Kristen Chenoweth'srole as the wedding planer was pointless and takes a lot away from thefilm. She is a very annoying character and a very poor actress and isone of the reasons why the film is excruciating to watch.
Final Thought: If the "You Again" was have based off of the last thirtyseconds of the film, this would have been a very entertaining movie.Despite the cast and some surprise cameos there is not enough BettyWhite Antics to make film this worth seeing in theatres, therefore savesome money and wait for DVD.
Added: 27 September 2010
Vote: 4
You Again is a disjointed, if well meaning, comedy
Okay, with a cast that included Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis,Kristen Chenoweth, and Betty White with Kristen Bell as the star, Ithought this movie might have some good comedic performances at least.Don't get me wrong, there were some amusing scenes especially whenBell's brother and his fianc?e who was some mean girl from their highschool days do some Hall & Oates while driving or when we first see Ms.Curtis reuniting with former rival Ms. Weaver long after their teenageyears. But the characterizations tend to be one-sided at least untilthe writer(s) try to put some dramatic denouement but by then onepartly gets confused as to what tone was meant by the whole thing.Still, You Again was well meaning and there are some surpriseappearances that kept one smiling if not laughing. So on that note,this movie is at the least worth a look...
User: Neil WelchAdded: 18 November 2010
Vote: 3
Pleasing family comedy
Mari (Kristin Bell) was bullied at school for being a spotty geek withspecs and braces. Having grown into a successful businesswoman, she ishorrified to discover that her beloved older brother's fianc?e isJoanna (Odette Yustman), the leader of the high school bullies whovictimised her. Her mother Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis) tells her to let itgo until it turns out that Joanna's rich aunt Ramona (SigourneyWeaver), who is funding the wedding, occupies a similar position in herown past. And Mari, believing that Joanna's apparent near perfection isall put on, goes on the attack to protect her brother.
This is all rather good, if improbable, fun. Kristin Bell does fairlywell with a part which is fairly vindictive (in what she believes is agood cause) for much of the film, as well as somewhat contradictory.Odette Yustman does better as Joanna, a character who is allowed toshow high school nastiness and an apparently reformed side - there ismuch more shading here.
But the two older women have the meatier roles, and both relish theopportunity to play fairly broad comedy (although Jamie Lee Curtis doesfrequently slip over the edge into gurning caricature). There are alsosome entertaining supporting characters, with Kyle Bornheimer's Timdelivering a particularly funny "speech" at the wedding rehearsal.
The humour is a pleasing mix of situational, character, wordplay, andslapstick, with only the unfunny and unnecessary bathroom sequencefalling flat.
And the film resolves nicely - notwithstanding the nastiness whichdrives most of the film, things end well.
I enjoyed this.
Added: 24 September 2010
Vote: 7
OK! Not Bad! Entertaining!
Spoiler Alert for the end of the movie! Warned ya! OK not a bad movie.No Citizen Kane but you knew that just by the cast. All right so BettyWhite was around when Citizen Kane was filmed.
Look for a fast flowing, I can figure out what was coming next, cutemovie. My wife told me to use cute. Believable, nah! But parents cantake their kids, guys can take their girls without being raunched overlike the movie--Going the Distance.
Cameos galore especially at the end when--I can't tell you--shows up asBetty White's nemesis. Figure it out and enjoy the moment. No it is notMary Tyler Moore but you are close.
Added: 25 September 2010
Vote: 7
A Movie That Has Its Moments But Really Needs A Few More
If nothing else, you have to like this for the high-powered cast thatwas put together. With well known stars such as Jamie Lee Curtis,Sigourney Weaver, Victor Garber and even Betty White you know therewill be quality performances. The lead actress is the lesser knownKristen Bell (recently seen in Couples Retreat) and there are a numberof cameos from the likes of Patrick Duffy and one who pops up for onlya moment at the end who I guess I won't name since the cameo isuncredited and should probably come as a surprise. With those names,this couldn't be a disaster, and it wasn't.
The story has its moments. At times, it's actually very funny. Bellplays a former high school geek whose brother is suddenly gettingmarried to the girl who made her teenage years a complete misery andwhose wedding she decides she wants to break up. Meanwhile her mom(Curtis) discovers that the bride's aunt (Weaver) was someone she had afalling out with in high school. The unnamed cameo at the end is acontinuation on the theme, with the mystery cameo being someone BettyWhite's character had a falling out with in high school, so thesefamilies have a 3 generation long feud to overcome to make thismarriage work. To me, I thought most of the laughs occurred in twosettings - when Curtis visits Weaver at her hotel and then at therehearsal dinner. There are a lot of laughs in those scenes.
Unfortunately, although there are some good laughs in this, therearen't enough laughs in this. In fact, sometimes the movie getsdownright heavy and far too serious; at times the characters seem to betruly hurtful to each other in a less than fun way, and the movie seemsto forget that it's a comedy. It does have its moments. It just neededto have more.
Added: 26 September 2010
Vote: 6
A Squeaky Clean Kristen Bell Wedding Comedy With Nothing Smutty
Old rivalries re-ignite but reconciliation follows in "Game Plan"director Andy Fickman's light-hearted, family-friendly, wedding farce"You Again." This middle-of-the-road Touchstone Pictures release boastsa female power house cast featuring Kristen Bell, Sigourney Weaver,Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristin Chenoweth, Betty White, and Cloris Leachman.These gals strut their stuff in freshman scenarist Moe Jelline's cutebut contrived comedy about what occurs when old high school rivalssquare off against each other during a marriage weekend. People whoprefer light, frivolous comedies without profanity or anything remotelysmutty should have a field day with this brisk, 105-minute,squeaky-clean, PG-rated, gagfest with pranks that look recycled from a1950's era "I Love Lucy" episode. Indeed, chick flick lovers may bereminded of either "My Best Friend's Wedding" or "27 Dresses."Basically, sweet, little Kristen Bell almost sabotages her olderbrother's wedding because his bride terrorized our heroine in highschool. Just when our heroine's mom—former scream queen Jamie LeeCurtis—reminds Marni to give her rival 'a second chance," mom meetsformer best friend Sigourney Weaver, and the catfights begin. "YouAgain" amounts to nothing more than a hopelessly upbeat cinematicfrolic with the gals acting giddy and getting all dolled up for onepratfall after another. Good performances, Fickman's smooth helming,and the catfights keep this carefree comedy bouncing along to itshilarious but sentimental conclusion. Music connoisseurs of 1980'stop-40 pop tunes will lap up the soundtrack which contains songs fromHeart, Queen, and Daryl Hall & John Oates. Predictably, Betty Whitesteals every scene in which she appears.
"You Again" opens in the year 2002 with Marni Olivia Olsen (KristenBell of "When in Rome") recording a video for her high school timecapsule. Marni is a world-class geek with her acne, her spectacles, herbraces, and her greasy strands. She looks at the camera and hopes thather high school years don't foreshadow her future. Principally, Marnidoesn't care much for Joanna (Odette Yustman of "The Unborn") and hersnobby friends. Joanna is the high school bully who loves to warbleQueen's "We Are The Champions." Not only does mean-girl Joanna lockMarni out of school, but she also labels her a 'loser.' Later, during ahigh school basketball game, Joanna knocks down Marni when our heroineis having trouble keeping the mask of the high school mascot—a gator—onthe right way. Poor Marni stumbles onto the basketball court andcollides with her older brother Will and he misses his last-minute shotand the Gators lose. Naturally, Marni turns out to be first-classklutz, and she consistently has a habit of running in handsome Charlie(Sean Wing of "Forget Me Not") and spilling something on him. Afterhigh school, Marni becomes a successful public relations specialist."Perception," she assures a new crop of PR employees, "is everything."Marni explains we cannot prevent things from happening to us, but wecan control our reaction to them. She has an enviable job in LosAngeles, but she does such a good job that the company gives her apromotion to their New York office as a new vice-president.
This good fortune occurs just before her older brother, Will (JamesWolk of TV's "Lone Star"), is going to married. Imagine Marni's shockand surprise when she meets Will's fianc? and the bride turns out to beJoanna. It doesn't help matters that virtually everybody in the Olsenfamily, including their pet dog, adores Joanna. A string of eventsfollows that makes Marni feel like she is back in high school. Chiefly,Joanna isn't the same girl. Instead, she is a considerate and caringwoman who loves Hall and Oates as much as Will. Eventually, Joannarealizes who Marni is, and an impatient Marni awaits Joanna's apology.Marni grows bitter when Joanna doesn't apologize and admit her tyranny.Meantime, Will is head-over-heels in love with Joanna. Marni tries towarn Will about his bride, but she never gets a chance. No matter whatMarni does, she cannot get a minute alone with her brother to inform onJoanna. At the same time, Marni's mom, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis of"Halloween"), reminds her daughter that everybody deserves a secondchance.
No sooner has Gail uttered this dictum than she discovers that Joanna'sonly living relative, Aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver of "Alien"), washer best friend in high school thirty years ago. They didn't part ongood terms. Ironically, Ramona lived in Gail's shadow, but Ramona isnow a wealthy, albeit two-time divorc?e. As it turns out, Ramona owns anumber of luxurious motels and has been ranked for eleven years as oneof Fortune 500's most successful business people. Meantime, Marnidecides at the last minute to dig up the Ridgefield High School timecapsule and show her brother evidence of what an awful person thatJoanna was. Naturally, this strategy backfires on Marni and makes herlook like Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding." At the sametime, Will is devastated that the same girl that he fell in love withcould be such a vixen.
"You Again" gives both Kristen Bell and Jamie Lee Curtis a chance topull stunts that Lucille Ball used to get away with regularly on "ILove Lucy." After she learns about Joanna, Marni literally turns intothe geeky, acne-riddled wallflower that she used to be. She falls intoan ant bed and the bites make her look like she has an outbreak of acneagain. Later, when Joanna and she tangle before the wedding reception,Joanna dumps a bowl of punch on Marni that makes her look as if shewere drenched with pancake batter. Meanwhile, Curtis loses one ofRamona's earrings in a sink and takes a shower when she dismantles theplumbing in an effort to recover the jewelry. In another scene, Gailand Ramona topple into a swimming pool and tear into each other.Contagiously funny scenes like these make "You Again" an amusingtrifle.
Added: 26 September 2010
Vote: 8
You Again a Movie I Won't See Again
Marni (Kristen Bell), like many of the rest of us, had a tough time inhigh school. Among her chief tormentors was JJ (Odette Yustman), thecaptain of the cheerleading squad and all around snob. But Marni bucksup and uses the bullying she experienced as a goad toward achievementafter graduation. Whatever her motivations, Marni's achievements can'tbe questioned: She's named a vice president of her public relationsfirm just before she heads home for her older brother's wedding.
Marni and her brother Will (Jimmy Wolk) have always been close, andshe's both devastated and furious when she discovers the bride-to-be isnone other than her high school nemesis who now answers to the nameJoanna. Marni's mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) is sympathetic, but tellsMarni that high school is in the past and she needs to move on. Thatadvice comes easily to Gail until she discovers Joanna's Aunt Ramona(Sigourney Weaver) is her own high school nemesis.
Despite the happy occasion that has gathered the family together, Marniis less than thrilled. After all, JJ wasn't the best of persons in highschool, and Marni can't imagine she's changed much! After an awkwardreunion and family dinner, Marni and her younger brother Ben decide todo what they can to derail the nuptials.
Kristen Bell is a very pretty girl, and it couldn't have been easy totransform her into the unattractive high school geek that Marni wassupposed to have been. Yet make-up artists and Bell's adoption of someless than pretty tics make you believe in the earlier version of Marni.Odette Yustman also does a good job as the pretty, popular girl whosemission in life is to make Marni miserable. Some of the movie's bestmoments come, though, as the result of the past and present rivalrybetween Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver. I'd be very surprised ifthe two of them had less than a ball doing their scenes togetherbecause it certainly shows on screen that way.
The story itself is relatively predictable, and the direction, whilecompetent, is nothing special. The script is marred by moments ofmelodrama that undermine the otherwise marginal believability of thestory, and though the actors handle their lines well, even genuinetalent isn't enough to overcome some of the things they must say anddo. In particular, poor Kristen Chenoweth in a role as the weddingplanner—an actress I consider a truly brilliant talent—is stuck in arole where the caricature overwhelms even her formidable abilities.While Betty White (who portrays Marni's Grandma Bunny) is also silly,she, at least, gets away with it.
BOTTOM LINE: You Again is often diverting, and has enough elements ofrealism in it to make you recall your own high school days (for good orfor ill), but it doesn't overcome the limitations imposed on it by itsscript, or a story that we've all frankly heard before. I wasmoderately entertained and mildly amused in the theatre, but when themovie was played out, I was less than fulfilled. ADDENDUM: Stay for thecredits. Trust me.
POLITICAL NOTES: None.
FAMILY SUITABILITY: You Again is rated PG for "brief mild language andrude behavior." Produced by Touchstone (a Disney-owned company), thelargely family-friendly fare is no real surprise. While I wouldn'trecommend You Again for really young children (it's not going to holdtheir interest nor will they understand some of the complications thatensue from various and sundry misunderstandings or manipulations), mostparents should have no problem with their tweens or teens buying aticket.
