Fun mindless entertainment. Rebel Wilson is so watchable she easily carries the movie. Great supporting cast.
Add a Review
-
trish-4539110 March 2019
-
ferguson-613 February 2019Greetings again from the darkness. I'm not usually the guy anyone turns to for recommendations on Romantic Comedies. Rather than dreamy and fantasy-like, I find most of them imbecilic and disrespectful to those of us living in the real world. It's because of this predisposition that I was cautiously optimistic when I heard that Rebel Wilson's new movie offered a satirical look at the genre. Well, it turns out the movie is more spoof than satire, yet I was pleasantly surprised to find it darn funny and quite clever.
The story begins with a young girl mesmerized while watching Julia Roberts in PRETTY WOMAN. A minute later, the girl's fantasy is shattered when her mother (Jennifer Saunders) explains 'there are no happy endings for girls like us.' We then flash forward 25 years to find that little girl has grown up to become Natalie (Rebel Wilson, PITCH PERFECT), an architect whose lack of confidence and self-esteem has caused her career to stall and her daily life to be a grind (even her dog ghosts her). Additionally, Natalie is a skeptic when it comes to love, and offers up a brilliant rant on the misgivings and pain caused by Romantic Comedies. The rant is directed towards her loyal assistant Whitney (Betty Gilpin, "GLOW"), who spends a significant portion of each workday streaming rom-coms at her desk.
Of course, Natalie's rant foreshadows everything we are about to see, and it all occurs after a freak subway accident leaves her concussed. It's at this point where Natalie finds herself trapped within her own Romantic Comedy ... the kind of world she so disdains. All of the familiar rom-com tropes and clichés are mixed in, and Natalie is kind enough to literally point out most of them. The obvious comparison here is to Amy Schumer's I FEEL PRETTY, but this film benefits not just from the very talented Ms. Wilson (a master of dry snark), but also a cast that is fully on board.
Liam Hemsworth (aka Mr. Miley Cyrus) appears as Blake, the picturesque, charming and of course, very rich romantic lead. Priyanka Chopra (BAYWATCH) stars as the stunning competition-in-love for Natalie, and Adam Devine (PITCH PERFECT) is Josh, Natalie's nice guy co-worker and not-so-secret admirer who can't seem to escape the friend zone. Given the times, it is a bit surprising to see Brandon Scott Jones take his stereotypical gay friend Donny so over the top. The love quadrangle plays out as expected, yet thanks to the site gags and Rebel's zingers, it's quite entertaining.
Director Todd Strauss-Schulson and writers Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox, and Katie Silberman clearly have a solid grasp on the repeatable offenses that occur during most romantic comedies, and I would have preferred they cut a bit deeper in their commentary, but understand the decision not to. They offer us a rare Prozac joke, the new phrase "extra invisible", and the best use in years of Percy Faith's "Theme from A Summer Place". Toying with the PG-13 rating is also part of the gag, and the musical interludes are funny enough, especially the finale presented in Bollywood style. Expect this one to be a favorite on ladies night out, and don't be shocked if some men on dates catch themselves laughing a few times. -
Markyajv14 February 2019I found this to be very funny. It takes as many cliche's that you can think of about Rom-com's and just throws them at you. Rom-com's are a dime a dozen, they are predictable as all get out, This takes all that stuff and makes the Rom-com a joke. That's the joke. I stopped watching romantic comedies because of the exact reason this movie shows the audience. I am not going to summarize the movie because I do not think it needs it in a review. All the actors are fine. This isn't Shakespeare. It's the Non-Rom-Com - just like Valentines Day is a complete sham! Take it for what it is. See the joke and you'll have a good time. Plus, I mean, come on.....Priyanka Chopra? Wow!
-
andrea-brianna9120 February 2019Really cute movie! Me and my friends were cracking up and pretty hard at some parts! Rebel is hilarious and I enjoyed her outfits through the movie. I'm a bigger girl myself and it's nice to see a bigger girl get all dolled up on screen and for people to realize that we can look hot too.
-
This film tells the story of a woman whose life becomes a romantic comedy.
It is really a clever romantic comedy because it looks like a parody of a romantic comedy, but still remains a romantic comedy. The chemistry of the cast is great, the jokes are fun, the sets look really fantastic, and the music is great too. I love the dance at the end, it got me dancing in my seat I love it! -
I almost bypassed this, simply because Rebel Wilson makes me want to punch the TV. I was pleasantly surprised by this light hearted comedy/ Musical? It was light hearted fun, with a fun soundtrack, and although it's been done before, (Shallow Hal, I Feel Pretty) It was still different enough to enjoy.
If you're skipping this because Rebel Wilson highly irritates you, DON'T! Give it a go. I didn't realise that she is capable of acting in something that doesn't require her to behave like a complete disaster. 85 minutes of fun and cheese. -
Lorenzo217 February 2019Apparently this is a love it or hate it type of movie, going by the ratings here. Although I didn't hate it, I do believe the set up for the premise could have been better developed, especially considering the run time is less than 90 minutes. I did get some laughs, and I understand what they were going for here, but it felt very disjointed. Was that intentional, because generic rom coms feel the same? OK, I see that. But, generic rom coms get panned, so why wouldn't a move that makes fun of them if it is just as disjointed?
I don't recommend paying the cost of a theater ticket for this movie. Wait for it to come to whatever service you already pay for, cable, satellite, Netflix, etc., and judge for yourself. -
mossow929 March 2019Like its obvious cousin I Feel Pretty, Isn't It Romantic has a message to give its audience. From the opening scene, you know what that message is and where this story is going. And that's the point. While some of the jokes don't quite land and the movie seems to run just a bit longer in spots than necessary, Rebel Wilson does her usual comedic best to carry the film. A final twist plainly smacks the viewer with the moral of the film and finally concludes predictably. While muddled in spots, love the message of the film and had some fun.
-
It started out with a few amusing ideas, but then failed to make the most of it, by a third of the way in, it was quite predictable, the acting often wooden, and the plot predictable. I didn't find the characters too engaging, and by the end didn't care too much about what happened.
This is one of those movies where you really feel you wasted your time and could have done something more interesting or productive instead. -
ShelbyTMItchell14 February 2019Rebel Wilson long a supporting player movies to the front. As Natalie a sweet, kind, and lonely lady from Australia, living in NY and trying to find herself and being taken advantage of.
As she was told as a child do not believe in the romance movies. With happy endings but she has a big presentation to make.
Trying to impress her new boss, Liam Hemsworth and trying to stay best friends with Adam Devine who steals the move again with his comic genius thing.
She gets mugged while going home and wakes up to discovery she is the center of attention. Changing her wardrobe and attitude along the way. And hooks up with her boss. But he is the right guy for her, or is Adam the one true love.
Only to discover Adam helps save a choking Priyanka Chopra and develops a relationship only to make Rebel's character jealous.
Will Rebel get to realize Adam is the true one for her or will she be doomed to go from rags to richest to rags again? There is a twist to this movie. Silly, funny movie. -
ldgrem-7820023 February 2019Ended up in the dead space between romantic and slapstick. I felt like it was heading toward one or the other a few times and kept missing the mark. I thought the musical numbers would be where this movie hit its stride. Instead, I found myself looking for the fast forward button. Two to three laughs and clever concept but overall disappointing.
-
I personally hate romcoms, just like her. I found this movie hilarious, and even a little inspirational...
-
Top_Dawg_Critic11 March 2019Great cast, everyone was entertaining especially Rebel, and the directing was on point. However, the writing was a little too childish and predictable, and the humor was almost infantile, I didn't laugh once - just a couple of smiles here and there. A forgettable comedy. 6/10 from me.
-
apjc1 March 2019I really don't understand ratings anymore, how anyone could love this so much as to award 10 is just as incredible as anyone hating it so much as to say 1 or less if they could. It maybe ok for some or just a quick turn off for others like me, but it's nowhere near any extremes.
-
themadmovieman4 March 2019As cinema's most formulaic and over-played genre, I'm always happy to see a film taking a little pop at the romantic comedy, simply because there's so much to poke fun at. Isn't It Romantic takes this premise to the max early on, with a full-on parody of all things rom-com that makes for a rather cute and enjoyable opening. However, while it's a perfectly pleasant movie throughout, it unfortunately loses steam and confidence in its satirical attitude, ultimately and rather disappointingly devolving into what is unmistakably a generic romantic comedy.
But let's start on the bright side, with the film's early critiques and little jabs at all the ridiculous tropes of the romantic comedy. As a genre that everyone knows well, this film doesn't hold back when going into extreme detail about various formulaic aspects of the rom-com, whether it be the pointless rivalry between female friends or the ever-present final dash to stop the wedding.
In that, there's a lot to laugh at and enjoy when it comes to making fun of the rom-com formula, and Isn't It Romantic is a film that stays bold and confident in its delivery of that satire well throughout the first act, all the while impressing with nice humour, a pleasant lead performance from Rebel Wilson, and a sweet and enjoyable atmosphere all round.
A lot of that continues on right the way through to the end, and while Isn't It Romantic remains a really rather nice watch throughout, it proves hugely disappointing in its rather abrupt end of all the rom-com satire as the second act gets underway.
With a major change of circumstance that sees Rebel Wilson trapped inside a romantic comedy, the film eventually just gives up on all its gags and little jabs at the genre, and instead goes into automatic as it develops the story and the various on-screen romances towards a disappointingly predictable conclusion.
In comparison to something like They Came Together, which also pokes fun at romantic comedies, Isn't It Romantic isn't consistently farcical or stupid enough to be a properly good satire of the genre. Its finale attempts to subvert your expectations with an individualistic message, but it's delivered far too seriously and earnestly to fit in with that comical vibe.
Ultimately, that's what really undoes this film as a whole. It's perfectly pleasant, and thanks to its thoroughly enjoyable opening act, it's certainly better than most romantic comedies. However, the fact remains that it just doesn't carry through with its funniest ideas, instead devolving into exactly what it's meant to poking fun at. With a disappointingly generic, simplistic and annoyingly earnest latter two acts, it makes for an underwhelming finish to what could have been a thoroughly hilarious watch. -
cardsrock14 March 2019Isn't It Romantic does a good job at poking fun of cliches that litter pretty much all romantic comedies. Rebel Wilson is a capable lead and is quite funny throughout. Most of the humor actually is pretty good and I liked that this film didn't have to resort to gross-out gags to be funny. It was mostly cleverly-written bits. What holds the film back is its over-reliance on the same cliches it mocks. There were a few directions it could have taken that would have relied less on conventional rom-com setups. However, Isn't It Romantic is still a fairly charming and amusing look at one of cinema's most played out genres.
-
But I just have to for this one It's reaaaaaally bad It's not funny. I don't see the message this movie is trying to convey. It's like a whole round of mess. It's a waste of time.
-
lisafordeay28 February 2019Isn't it Romantic is a 2019 romantic comedy starring Rebel Wilson,Liam Hemsworth and Adam Devine and tells the story of this cynical woman named Nataile(Wilson) who isn't a fan of romantic comedies as she thinks that they are made up and predictable. However one day she gets her head hit and awakens to another alternative world where everyone is in love and pop songs would appear out of nowhere.
Now Nataile's boss is mean,her male colleague Blake(Liam Hemsworth sporting both an American and Australian accent) is infatuated with her and her best friend is in love with someone else named Isabella played by Priyanka Chopra.
Will Nataile get out of this world and will she end up with her friend Josh(Devine) when she discovers that she is in love with him?
Overall I really enjoyed this film. Yes its predictable and its poking fun of itself like Enchanted did with Disney poking fun of fairytales back in 2007,but its still a very feel good movie.
If you are not a lover of rom coms yet you secretly enjoy them then check this movie out.
7/10.
Hope its available on DVD eventually since its available on Netflix in the UK and Ireland. -
ajo-7246428 February 2019Funny? Nope. Parody movies haven't been entertaining in soooooooo long. Find something else on Netflix.
-
kirbie-344815 March 2019I mean as far as rom coms go, this one is at least making fun of itself, and not taking itself seriously. Yes, the fat jokes are getting very old, but it's still worth a watch. It isn't so much a rom com as a spoof of one. Just watch it all the way through before making judgements.
-
bbretall-115 February 2019In the trailer, this movie looked REALLY funny. The problem for me was that they put the punchline to all the funniest bits in this movie into that trailer, which really detracted from the experience of seeing the actual movie. The plot has Rebel Wilson hitting her head and waking up in a PG-13 Romantic comedy. They poke fun at the tropes you see in romantic comedies, so it's way better if you have watched films in this genre before, or else you're not going to get a lot of the humor. The first third of the film was funny (except I had seen many of the jokes already), it started to drag in the middle, and I dozed off for a few minutes near the end and missed the mechanism by which she returned to the "real" world, so the film was clearly not keeping my rapt attention. I wish I had not seen the trailer about 10 times in front of lots of other movies over the past month or two.
-
saherodeh-1048814 February 2019If you're here for a few good laughs, then this movie will give you just that. The plot is very clever and the jokes keeps you chuckling throughout. The fact that they're hating on romantic comedies and then pretending to be in one when the film is actually a romantic comedy itself was very ironic. Rebel Wilson is just a fantastic actor; I can't think of anyone else more fit for the role. She's very talented. In the same way, the rest of the cast were charming. I'm glad I got to watch this movie the first night of its release. Watch it, it'll be funny; if not, at least it'll be cute.
-
The ending ruined the whole movie, it will be better without the ending just let the elevator be the ending pls
-
HereGoHellCome1 March 2019This movie is the cinematic equivalent to a dumpster fire. Nope, nope..........a dumpster fire is more fun to watch. Both stink equally as bad!! This will win the 2019 Razzie of the year for sure.
-
lavatch31 May 2019There was a clever structure to "Isn't It Romantic," as the lead character Natalie finds herself in what she describes as a romantic "Matrix." Natalie begins by expressing her contempt for the romantic comedies. But after a mugging in the New York subway, Natalie's induced coma allows her to inhabit a parallel universe inside a Rom-Com film.
The film opens with the young version of Natalie enthralled by Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," and, as the film proceeds, there are self-conscious references to other famous romantic comedies. The plot is often silly with Natalie facing a lack of self-confidence both in the workplace and on the romantic front. But the "Matrix"-like experience opens her to new possibilities that begin with self-love.
This familiar message was made palatable by a dynamic set of characters, including a co-worker, Josh, with whom Natalie is secretly in love. Of course, Josh will figure prominently in the dream sequence, as well as a handsome tycoon who takes a passing interest in Natalie. But the character who constantly steals scenes is the neighbor Donny in Natalie's apartment complex. He assumes the role of the stereotypical gay male friend of the Rom-Com leading lady.
There was a nice touch from the director in the musical numbers, as well as occasional slapstick with the pratfalls. But the show mainly rests on Rebel Wilson's performance as Natalie. She has a lovely presence and beautiful smile, but did not always handle the comic dialogue skillfully. The end result, though it had some charm, was that "Isn't It Romantic" was rather bland as a romantic comedy.