Movie Review: ‘She’s out of my league’

Flick is cute, but can’t decide if it’s a romantic comedy

By Kayla Riley

Posted on March 25, 2010, at 3:50 a.m.

She’s blond, thin and busty. He’s gangly, awkward and scrawny. One thing is clear – she’s out of his league. Not surprisingly, that’s the guiding premise of “She’s Out of My League,” a fluffy comedy that barely slides by on its charm and good looks. Although it is touted as the funniest film since “The Hangover,” it is a less-than-hilarious disappointment.

Kirk, played by Jay Baruchel, is the lovable everyman — a Pittsburgh airport security employee who drives an ancient Honda and spends most of his time bearing the brunt of his raucous friend’s humor. Enter Molly, played by Alice Eve — the stereotypical blond bombshell and mythical “10” on a scale of physical attractiveness. Wherever she goes, men all but bow down to her physical prowess.

The unlikely pair begins dating after a kind gesture lands Kirk in Molly’s good graces. At first, it seems the duo has a chance at love, but his insecurities eventually threaten their unexpected bond.

Baruchel is accidentally endearing and mildly amusing in spite of himself. He pulls the dead weight of the script throughout most of the film, cracking a sheepish grin when appropriate. His dorky-yet-lovable demeanor hasn’t lost its luster since his small role in “Knocked Up,” and without it, this film’s concept wouldn’t have survived.

Eve is a relative newcomer to the big screen, having only starred in independent films and on Broadway, but with her Hollywood good looks she will no doubt have staying power. Her performance as Molly was decidedly one-dimensional, although it is difficult to tell whether that was born out of the character or out of inexperience.

“She’s Out of My League” can’t decide if it wants to be a romantic comedy or a raunchy Judd Apatow movie. It drifts distractingly between formulaic tugs at the heartstrings and crass lines. Besides being sparingly funny, it is predictable and lacks a storyline. The main characters are never fully developed and the plotlines are spoon-fed to viewers.

However, several humorous co-stars pepper the film, ensuring the money spent for a laugh at the theater isn’t completely wasted. Stainer, played by T.J. Miller, Kirk’s crude and rude best friend, delivers the most memorable lines and squares off with Molly’s best friend Patty, played by Krysten Ritter. Patty’s bitingly sarcastic humor evens out the sickly saccharine tone often present in the film. An underused Debra Jo Rupp — of “That ’70s Show” fame — plays Kirk’s sweet mom and provides a few good laughs.

If viewers can ignore the film’s various shortcomings, much like Molly did for Kirk, “She’s Out of My League” may be considered a joyful romp through predictable Hollywood paradise. Unfortunately, once first impressions fade, it is clear there’s not much more to it than pretty faces.

Grade: C-

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 25th, 2010, 3:50 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.