Spring Breakdown

This is one of those times where you CAN judge a book by its cover (or judge a DVD by its box). As the cover implies, it's a silly movie about three 30-something, nerdy women trying to pass for spring break partiers. The gags are predictable, but much like a Rodney Dangerfield movie, that's why we go to see it. No surprises, just a series of expected scenes & funny clichés.

I watched this mainly because I'm a big fan of Parker Posey (Josie & the Pussycats, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman). After seeing her in so many eccentric roles, it was interesting to see her play the straight role for a change while most of the crazy antics were handled by Rachel Dratch or Amy Poehler. Actually what made me lol the most was a hilarious supporting role by Missi Pyle (an actress who is mostly known for hilarious supporting roles, like in Galaxy Quest, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Sarah Silverman Program). Missi plays a perfect Texas slut. Equally hilarious is a supporting performance by Jane Lynch (Best in Show, Mighty Wind) as she plays a psychotic senator who could easily be the result of an unfortunate cross-breeding between Hillary Clinton & Sarah Palin. Yes, very frightening.

Lots of the gags deal with late 80s nostalgia, such as music by Cyndi Lauper, Wilson Phillips, and a painful scene of the Electric Slide that'll give you horrible flashbacks. My guess is that this film would be enjoyed by similar 30- or 40-something people who remember how awkward & goofy the 80s & 90s were. For those of us who lived through those brutally cheezy decades, it's always fun to see these kinds of movies. If you fall into that generation, I highly recommend "Music & Lyrics" with Drew Barrymore & Hugh Grant.

Final note, if you go down to your local Blockbuster you can find this DVD for $1.99 on the bargain table. For two bucks you can't go wrong!

Gayle O'Brien (Amy Poehler), Becky St. Germaine (Parker Posey), and Judi Joskow (Rachel Dratch) are three friends from State College. They think that things will get better, but 15 years later, they are still losers. Becky works for Senator Hartmann (Jane Lynch). She gets sent down to springbreak to watch over the senator's daughter Ashley Hartmann (Amber Tamblyn) and her friends Lydia (Mae Whitman) and Truvy (Sarah Hagan). Only the three young friends are really just as much of losers as the three older women.

Amy Poehler got some pretty good laughs in. When she was rejected by a blind Will Arnett, that's a funny bit. Parker Posey and Rachel Dratch aren't that funny at all. Dratch chasing after Justin Hartley seems more creepy than funny. As for the younger three, they just don't have enough to do. Amber Tamblyn is pretty good but there might be too many lead characters. Not everybody has the room to breathe.

I don't think this movie is for everyone. But I saw it this weekend in Seattle and I thought it was so funny. I haven't laughed that hard during a movie in long time. I thought the entire cast did a great job. You will find yourself laughing from the first moment through the very last scene. I suspect some moviegoers (especially the ones who take themselves WAY too seriously) will be turned off by this brand of humor. Not me. The movie was a real surprise. And the entire theater was rolling with laughter throughout the showing I went to which makes me think that a lot of people enjoyed themselves and were happy to have a good time at the movies for a change. I cannot wait to see it again! If you're in the mood to LOL then this is for you. Funny funny funny funny!

Released in 2009 and directed by Ryan Shiraki, "Spring Breakdown" is a comedy about three geeky women in their mid-30s (Amy Poehler, Parker Posey & Rachel Dratch) who finally decide to get "with it" by going to Spring Break at the notorious South Padre Island, Texas. They're supposed to keep an eye on a senator's daughter (Amber Tamblyn) so she doesn't get out of hand. Jane Lynch plays the politician whereas Missi Pyle is on hand as a party girl.

The plot is cute, there are some quietly amusing bits and the raunch is thankfully kept at bay, but this is mostly a missed opportunity. I think females will appreciate it more than I did; it screams "chick flick." It does, however, show the awful truth about the bikini & beer subculture built around Spring Break (pukin' on the beach and having sex with a total stranger while dead drunk; yeah that sounds like fun – woo hoo!).

The film runs 84 minutes and was shot at South Padre Island, Texas, and Long Beach & Los Angeles (UCLA), California.

GRADE: C- (4.5/10)

Hmmm... well, "Spring Breakdown" is a comedy mostly targeted for a female audience. But it is still somewhat of a movie that can be seen by guys as well. However, don't expect to be laughing hard at any time throughout the course of the entire movie.

What works out mostly for the movie is perhaps the female cast, as they did have nice chemistry on the screen and each one brought something unique to the movie in each their own right. And it was also nice to see Seth Meyers, Will Arnett and Jane Lynch make special appearances in the movie.

The story in "Spring Breakdown" is about three ladies in their thirties who travel to South Padre Island in order to look after a senators daughter, but also to have a chance at partying like they never had a chance to do during their youth.

For a comedy, then I found myself, oddly enough, not really laughing at any point during the movie. That being said, then I am not saying that the movie is bad or boring, the humor just wasn't in my liking. The movie is still entertaining enough for what it was.

Unfortunately then "Spring Breakdown" is a very generic comedy that doesn't bring anything new or overly interesting to the comedy genre.