Review of film: “YOU AGAIN”

2011, 02-18:

Review of film: “YOU AGAIN”  (evaluated from DVD projected at a library)

This is one of those “from ‘FREAK’ to SLEEK” type stories wherein a gawky teenage girl named Marni (KRISTEN BELL) eventually grows up & becomes a “SUCCESS” in business…

…  In high school, Kristen was constantly picked-on by “big-shot” cheerleader “JJ” / Joanna (ODETTE YUSTMAN), & it deeply hurt her, even tho she was regularly supported emotionally by her bigger brother Will (JAMES “Jimmy” WOLK), her mother Gail (JAMIE LEE CURTIS), her dad Mark (VICTOR GARBER), & kid brother Ben (BILL UNGER)…

…  When Kristen comes back to her home town, she learns that bro Jimmy has become engaged.  In time, she learns the fiancée is her old “nemesis” ODETTE, & she’s not only very upset by that in general, she’s especially displeased that Odette pretends that she doesn’t “KNOW” Kristen from high school (much less that she was cruel to her)…

…  Kristen doesn’t want to directly “let-on” to Jimmy what’s “going-on” between her & Odette, but she keeps trying to get Odette to “OWN-UP” to things & apologize to her, which Odette keeps resisting…

…  If that isn’t “bad enough”, it turns out that Odette’s main family member remaining alive who’s giving her “away” at the wedding is her aunt Ramona (SIGOURNEY WEAVER) --  who turns out to have been a RIVAL to JAMIE LEE in the past!... 

…  Sigourney is exceptionally wealthy & well connected (owning a chain of hotels), & jealousy keeps arising between her & Jamie Lee because she still holds a “grudge” over the way Jamie Lee dated a boy she’d liked named Richie (= PATRICK DUFFY in the “older” version)……

…  As wedding preparations continue between the families via Wedding Planner Georgia (KRISTIN CHENOWETH), Kristen keeps trying to “SABOTAGE” Odette’s wedding with Jimmy.  Also involved is Jamie Lee’s mom Grandma Bunny (BETTY WHITE) & K’s brother Bill…

…  In time, Kristen meets an “EX” of Odette’s named Tim (KYLE BORNHEIMER), &, when she sees he’s not “over” Odette, she works to in-effect involve HIM in her plans to disrupt the wedding plans…  Meanwhile, she meets Jimmy’s best friend Charlie (SEAN WING) who she had a “crush” on in high school…  

…  The concept is fairly interesting, & the CAST does a good job with the roles they’ve been given.  Unfortunately, the script itself struck me as weak (not very clever), & that pulls down the effectiveness of what the actors can achieve in their periodically-“overdone” character personas… 

…  The audience (of mostly older people) enjoyed the film overall, & especially got a kick out of the humor & “feistiness” of BETTY WHITE.  Overall, I’d rate the film 7.25 of 10 stars (mostly for the actors working hard at their roles)…

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