Ass Backwards

As other users have said, there's an obvious Romy & Michelle vibe (nothing wrong with that) - but where that film had heart, likable characters, and actual jokes, this one has absolutely none of that. The two main characters are abrasive, unlikable and interchangeable - their motivations and intelligence level seem to change from scene to scene. This is an almost Andy Kaufman-esque piece of anti-comedy - scenes drag on and on with awkward silences and nothing resembling jokes or even attempted jokes. I might have laughed once - it's an absolute chore to sit through.

I like Casey Wilson and June Diane Raphael in other projects, but after this and Bride Wars, they need to take a break from screen writing. This makes Orci-Kurtzman scripts look like Charlie Kaufman or Tarantino.

The only way this can be redeemed is if Raphael does an episode of "How Did This Get Made?" (the bad-movie discussion podcast she co-hosts) devoted to this movie. She's usually the most likable, level-headed person on the show, who seems to actually want to discuss the shortcomings of the movie instead of just crack easy jokes; any insight into how this movie went so, so wrong would be fascinating to listen to.

This movie could actually of been funny, if it had a different writer, actors and director. The moments when you want to laugh, never actually get there. The only feeling you have is of relief that the movie is finally over. The only saving grace throughout the whole movie is the few lines spoken by Jon Cryer.

The 1hr 21 Min's and 37 secs that this movie takes away from you, will make you realize what a complete waste of everyones time this was. Watch paint dry for that amount of time and i guarantee you will laugh more and have more emotion than this movie leaves you with.

My only feelings at the end of this movie, was thank god that's over, and what a complete waste of money that was, and no i'm not talking about the millions that this rubbish would of cost but the mere $2.50 I spent renting this.

It sort of reminds me of Connie and Carla or For a Good Time Call... so if you like either of those gal pal movies you'll probably enjoy this one even if it is a little slapstick.

A bit like Romy & Michelle meets Dumb & Dumber. I didn't mind it. They could have made more of it but it is what it is. It's more scratching your head laughing than laugh out loud funny. If you enjoyed Happy Endings you should love this. I did.

I must admit that I had initially expected just a bit more from this movie than what it turned out to be. So I can't really claim to have been overly impressed with the end result.

The story is about Kate (played by June Diane Raphael) and Chloe (played by Casey Wilson) who were competing in beauty pageants as young girls - and lost. Having grown up together, living together and doing everything together, the two women are side by side through thick and thin. They receive an invitation for a 50th anniversary beauty pageant in the town of Neptune. Getting there proves to be some ordeal for the two women.

That was basically the storyline wrapped up in a few lines. For a comedy, then "Ass Backwards" was really tame and you have to look far for the laughs. I think I laughed but one time throughout the entire movie, and that was when they were driving in their van and singing along to a scratched CD with the "take on me" song by A-HA. That was the highlight of the entire movie.

The jokes were non-existent, and there was just an all-through complete lack of comedy throughout the entire movie.

That being said, then I will say that the people in the movie were doing good jobs with their given roles, they just had next to nothing script-wise to work with. And the two lead actresses June Diane Raphael and Casey Wilson really carried the movie well and had great on-screen chemistry.

Perhaps I wasn't particularly in the target audience, as I am 38 years old and male, but still, this movie came and went without leaving any lasting impression at all, aside from two great performances by the lead actresses.