Spring Breakdown

Reading some of the comments on the message boards here I was expecting this movie to be a complete letdown - but when I watched it I could not stop laughing! It has officially become my new favourite movie.

I don't know what all the hate here is about, maybe it's because a movie of this kind has never really been around before. I am at a loss to name another completely female driven comedy. Plenty of comedies will have one or two actresses in the lead, but there will be a lot of supporting male characters. This one was almost ALL women - with the exception of Seth Meyers, Justin Hartley and the brief appearance of Will Arnett - and it worked. All of the actresses delivered very funny performances (especially Missi Pyle) from a quirky and lovable script.

The charm of this film, to me, seems to be in its subtle feminist message: accepting who you are, female success in the public sphere, the strength of female friendships and breaking gender roles. Light-hearted though it is, each of the lead characters face a challenge as their attempts to be more 'fun' conflict with their feminist values and who they knew themselves to be.

Missi Pyle proposed that this film missed a theatrical release because of its all-female cast and lack of a big-name actor to get the studios behind it, and I have to agree. Everyone I've recommended this film to has loved it and I think it's a shame that a comedy celebrating female dorkiness hasn't been widely accepted and successful.

I highly recommend this film to anyone with an open mind or a love of female-centred comedy.

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)

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.

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!

Dude this movie rocks with great conflict comedy, social satire and the deliciously sexy Sophie Monk in one of her biggest roles yet! If you are at all enlightened/political you will love the female GW Bush character, the environmental jokes, the feminist humor amid wet tee-shirts,...

Gentlemen, don't be threatened by a chick-flick that straddles all sides of the aisle. Sit back and enjoy a drunk Rachael Dratch shouting "Do me!" as her friends haul her away. Parker Posey as the suck-up gopher who loves the environment and Amy Poehler as a wannabe "seven" girl also deliver in a big way.

Then there is the delectable Sophie Monk. Thank GOD she's getting larger roles. Girl you got it going on. Call me!