At some point, everyone imagines what it would be like to date a person who is out of his or her league. Director Jim Field Smith's witty new comedy, "She's Out of My League," explores this concept with clever writing and a solid cast.
The film follows Kirk (Jay Baruchel), an airport security guard with an unsupportive family and an ex-girlfriend who won't come back to him. Everything is going wrong in his life until he meets Molly (Alice Eve), a gorgeous party planner who accidentally leaves her phone at airport security. When he recovers her phone, she thanks Kirk by inviting him to a party she's throwing. Before long the two start dating, and Kirk's friends, family and ex-girlfriend are baffled trying to figure out why Molly would be interested in Kirk.
"She's Out of My League" feels like a collage of similar comedies in which many of the situations, characters and gags are inspired or taken from films like "Knocked Up" (2007) and "American Pie" (1999). The plot is predictable, but the writing is clever enough to provide conventional situations and jokes with unconventional endings. Audiences anticipate a punch line only to see it thrown in a completely different and new direction.
Baruchel — of "Tropic Thunder" (2008) and "Knocked Up" fame — is perhaps the most recognizable actor in the cast. He gives an honest portrayal of an ordinary guy who won the dating lottery and is struggling with the implications. He is a genuinely funny, likeable guy with zero self-esteem. When he's with Molly, Kirk is constantly waiting for something to go wrong due to his lack of confidence, which creates problems for him later on.
Eve is equally convincing as Molly, a smart, sweet, gorgeous bombshell. She effectively toes the line between the girl next door and a sex bomb, seemingly unaware of the effect she has on everyone around her. In fact, if there is one flaw with her character, it is that she has no real flaws. Conflict arises during the film when she is called perfect by other characters. She rightly argues that no one should be put on a pedestal, but from the audience and Kirk's perspective, Molly is perfect.
Kirk's group of friends and co-workers played by T.J. Miller, Mike Vogel and Nate Torrence will also seem familiar to audiences. Vogel and Torrence are effective in their roles, but Miller, who plays Kirk's friend Stainer, emerges as the unlikely star. Miller is hilarious in every one of his scenes, and yet manages to convey a character far more complicated than one would expect to find with such a role. Krysten Ritter is another pleasant surprise as Molly's best friend Patty. She manages to be likeable despite her icy personality, and her deliveries are some of the finest in the film.
Unfortunately, the comedic scenes involving Kirk and his family are less successful, coming off as annoying and uncomfortable. One of the funniest and most gratifying scenes is when Kirk finally tells his family members how horrible they are, but this payoff isn't worth the time spent focused on these characters who are essentially one-dimensional caricatures.
The great chemistry between Baruchel and Eve that makes audiences believe in Kirk and Molly's relationship is key to the overall effect of the film. The film poses the question, "Why would a 10 (Molly) go for a five (Kirk)?" and proposes that one can't view people and relationships on a numerical scale. The film shows that someone being out of one's league is a defeatist philosophy, but it does not answer the question of why Molly would fall for Kirk. It seems to be content with asserting there is no reason why she couldn't fall for him. Although this may make the film less credible to some moviegoers, audiences can't deny the sparks between the leading couple.
Ultimately, the film entertains with its strong overall cast. Many of the jokes are recycled, but the script manages to be original with some creative surprises. The film is a direct descendant of the many Judd Apatow films of the past few years. While the Apatowian "She's Out of My League" is not at the level of its predecessors, it is an unexpectedly fun comedy with plenty of laughs and enjoyable characters that audiences will love.
