A talented, female-driven ensemble, headed by Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kristen Bell is wasted in Touchstone’s formulaic comedy, “You Again,” schematically written by first-time scribe Moe Jelline directed by Andy Fickman in a workman-like mode.
You really have good reason to worry when even reliable comedic actors, such as Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber, and Betty White are not funny and come across flat, more as stereotypes than as fully developed individual characters.
It’s even more disappointing to realize that the producer, John J, Strauss, is the same man responsible for penning one of the best comedies of the 1990s, “There’s Something About Mary,” starring Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller.
From the very first scene, it’s clear that we have seen variations of this comedy before and that the tale that ensues would be predictable, or by-the-book.
Returning home to Northern California for her brother’s wedding, Marni (Kristen Bell) learns from her mother, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis), that Will (James Wolk) is marrying Joanna (Odette Yustman), her high school arch enemy.
Horrified and disturbed, Marni wonders, why would a presumably smart and sensitive boy like her brother marry the very girl from high school she never wants to see again?
Further complications, all anticipated from familiarity with the genre, ensue. Upon Marni’s arrival, Marni is also annoyed by the warm welcome that Joanna is getting from all members of the family, including her father Mark (Victor Garber), her little brother Ben (Billy Unger), and especially her beloved Grandma Bunny (Betty White).
They all seem to perceive of her as an innocent angel, who’s all goodness. They have no idea how much Joanna tormented Marni during school.
For her part, the manipulative Joanna acts like nothing bad ever happened! The already untenable situation takes another twist, when Joanna’s aunt, Ramona (Sigourney Weaver), a highly successful, career-driven woman, flies in from Europe for the wedding.
Ramona and Gail have also attended the same high school some 30 years ago, and though they claim camaraderie, they, too, have continued to experience rivalry, which stems from their teenage years.
As if all this is not enough for one good comedy, adding to the mix in the jam-packed long weekend are Georgia King (Kristin Chenoweth), the “wedding-extraordinator,” who specializes in top-of-the-line event planning, Charlie (Sean Wing), Will’s high school friend and best man, and Tim (Kyle Bornheimer), Joanna’s former fiancé.
For a mainstream Hollywood comedy, the film has quite many characters, but to what effect?
In due course, we get to meet Taylor (Christine Lakin) and Kendall (Meagan Holder), the cheerleaders from those high school years who are Joanna’s best friends and poised to be
bridesmaids for the big event.
The ever-vindictive Marni vows to prove to her family that Joanna is not who she appears to be—it becomes sort of her obsessive mission.
In a parallel story, Gail is trying really hard not to be intimidated by Ramona, who exudes confidence, beauty and wealth in every aspect of her conduct.
The film’s sort of a climax occurs in a public gathering, when everyone arrives for dance lessons, Joanna’s bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner.
Predictably, Marni and her mother, despite their age difference, unwittingly revert back to their teenage selves—and truly childish, if not infantile behavior, resulting in temporary chaos and turmoil all the way to the wedding.
