Four Hen Do's & A Funeral.
101 Mins. Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Zoe Kravitz, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Paul W. Downs, Ty Burrell & Demi Moore. Director: Lucia Aniello.
Do you remember what happened last night? You were so drunk right? But it was your hen-do, girls trip to Florida after all. That all night bachelorette were you partied like a bunch of 'Bridesmaids'. You remember!? You had a nice meal with a glass of wine. Did a few shots...bumps. Hit a few clubs and after parties. Humiliated yourself on the dance floor. Called your fiancee on the way home...and then killed a stripper. Wait! WHAT?! Now forget a hangover...this is one hell of a 'Rough Night' that makes for a new hilarious Scarlett Johansson comedy from 'Broad City' creator Lucia Aniello. As the Black Widow makes even more husband-less wives (or at least one...if we see a ring), as she and her girls bring the heat in South Beach like Will Smith singing about 'Miami' all night to the break of dawn. Partying in the city the heat really is on too as just another girls night turns into an episode of 'CSI: Miami'. These hens' "best night ever" off Ocean Drive was all going so classy restaurant swimmingly, until they began to drown themselves in vodka and bad choices. Killing it is an understatement. As just another night of "SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS" left them screaming like Lil Jon, but not like his hit with Usher as they lead a stripper to his black suit demise, accidentally clubbing him to death. Here's one evening you wish you could erase like drunk dialling the wrong person. Because you won't have to wait for the following day for it to all come back to you in a wash of migrane chased with regret. You really couldn't make this up. Just imagine the Facebook photos. Hash-tag de-tag!
Now forget 'Lost In Translation', Scarlett Johnasson has found herself in a potential murder investigation. As 'Lucy' is looking at the dock and not the altar, as this bridesmaid is taken on one hell of a ride when her Senator serious character just wanted a quiet meal with her "besties" and an early night. But Scarlett certainly has the comedy fever as it's great to see this multi-talented, awesome Avenger assassin (remember 'Relator'? She can sing to like her Pete Yorn collaboration and album of Tom Waits covers attests) take herself less seriously. Even if she still Romanoff kicks ass here armed with hairspray and waxing strips, aswell as comedy chops. We've seen her light hearted many times before the offbeat drama with Joesph Gordon-Levitt's porn-obsessed 'Don Jon' revealed that. But in this one the Hollywood heroine goes full Bradley Cooper, being the face and the funny of this potential, new comedy franchise which could stilletto step on the back of those 'Bridesmaids' dresses, unless Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett-Smith's 'Girls Trip' to New Orleans' mardi gras doesn't heel/toe them. Because this 'Night' is just as good as either of them, even if the other two more popular groups are getting more likes and red hearts in this social Twitter trend. Inbetween her Marvelous schedule and the 'Civil' and 'Infinity' wars, Johnasson has given us one of her best and diverse, albeit critically most underrated years with this and her lost in Tokyo like, future translation of the awesome, Asian anime adaptation of the goregeous, 'Blade Runner' before '2049' looking 'Ghost In The Shell'. She caught a lot of whitewashed flack here for the biggest, most underappreciated blockbuster of the year, but actually alas not in it's home of Japan. And now her two-hit Summer smashes are getting the one, two punch from critics in a no sweat season where we should just be having fun like Cyndi Lauper's girls. But even if reviewers are holding their applause...viewers can't stop laughing through their spat popcorn and shakes.
Because in actuality this night is anything but rough. As this beach smooth comedy will make for a sleeper re-release come the time it hits DVD shelves and the couches of movie night in parties. And we aren't just talking about stereotypical P.J. and face mask sleepovers. There's as much gags here for the fellas laughing on their own like the girls too from dynamite funny firing director Lucia Aniello. Bringing her 'Broad City' partner and real life boyfriend Paul W. Downs to this movie. Dressing him up as the meek wine-tasting innocent husband model of Scarlett's red hot comedy character. Until he goes all diaper dandy and washes cars with no pants like his milkshake was bringing all the boys to the petrol station, to charge his way down the freeway to get to his girl. You can tell how crazy this is all getting as fellow 'Broad City' star Ilana Grazer who stole more than the show in 'The Night Before' makes for some of the best gags here. Just like fellow Seth Rogen comedy star Jillian Bell who with this, just like '22 Jump Street' shows she's the comedian of the future. Even amongst the biggest of names like Saturday Night Live great Kate McKinnon, continuing her hilarious Hilary and Ellen impression impressive reign like she did in the cruelly dismissed and outstanding but overlooked SNL alumni 'Ghostbusters' reboot. Rock star daughter Zoe Kravitz also continues to roll out the hits like her 'First Class' 'X-Men' star and her 'Fury Road' trip with 'Mad Max' for her best part yet. There's even some cage rattling comedy cameos from 'Modern Family' maestro Ty Burell and 'Disclosure' legend Demi Moore as a couple with an open as the ocean marriage, looking to rent out more than their beach house. From jet ski's to sex swings there's a lot of physical comedy that ups the ante on the foul mouthed humour which seems to have rubbed some people up the wrong way...pun sort of intended (if it won't offend you). But there's a lot more whip-smart comedy here than the gross out gagging jokes of the hugely popular and well reveived 'Bridesmaids'. So why the blanked, pouted, critical cold shoulder and passive aggression? Maybe it's because this amazingly clever/crass comedy makes some not so subtle social digs at our plastic, obsessive smartphone filtered lives and friendship groups, sometimes faker than Florida nose-job surgery. But if you're offended by this and not 'The Hangover's' legendary, oft-referenced wolf-pack then maybe you are pointing your finger in the wrong direction. Because why can't these girls do it like the guys? Especially as they stick to the true nature of comedy by keeping the laughs churning in our stomachs. Put your head over a toilet bowl all you like, but those coming up with nothing aren't recalling what's really going down. Sure like any rough night this film gets a bit messy towards the end. But come the hungover, morning after when it's all coming back to you...it'll be a night you won't forget. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Bridesmaids', 'The Hangover', 'Girls Trip'.
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