They Came Together

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this movie. It seemed like it was going to poke fun at romcoms while still maintaining a grounded story and genuine romance. Yeah, that's not the case at all.

They Came Together is the epitome of meta comedy. It never takes itself seriously for a second and continues to barrage you with joke after joke after joke, spoofing the same romantic comedy tropes we've seen a billion times. It may sound repetitive, and it can be at times (some scenes go on for too long) but it's also the most refreshing satire I've seen in a long time. There is no point where you should be analyzing the plot to this movie. If you do, you're an idiot. Simple as that. The movie is one long joke - if you want some artistic integrity in your comedies then this movie is not for you. If you love to laugh at the expense of cheesy romcoms, then you're in for a real treat.

The acting in this movie is superb, if the all-star cast didn't already give that away. Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler are ace in their roles as lead caricatures, and even during the dumber moments they still give believable performances. Let me clarify: you don't believe anything the characters are doing are real, but they're convincing enough in their roles that you understand exactly what it is they're making fun of and it works wonders. Christopher Meloni is another highlight - he plays a Don Draper-esque boss that all the corporate drones follow blindly (with Paul Rudd's character being the obvious exception). I never viewed him as a comedic figure but he absolutely owns this role; the only other actor I can see doing this role justice is Jon Hamm himself. Other standouts include Jason Mantzoukas as Bob, the friendly awkward coworker, and Ed Helms playing the cliché douchebag that the girl falls for even though he's clearly wrong for her.

The best part about They Came Together is that it's wholly self-aware. It breaks the fourth wall more than a few times, and it doesn't take you out of the movie because you're never really in the movie to begin with. It's like watching an 80 minute long sketch comedy held together by a flimsy love plot. Another positive is that the movie never gets boring. It's so short and so eccentric you don't have time to get bored. Again, it's joke after joke after joke - most of them are cheesy, some are crude, but they're all so relatable as romantic comedy jabs that you can't help but laugh at the stupidity.

They Came Together is definitely not for everyone - if you're looking for substance, go somewhere else. This movie is pure satire from beginning to end. Nothing is believable, and none of it should be. It's a spoof movie at its core, standing head-and-shoulders above other spoofs due to great writing and a brilliant cast. Why this has such a low score on IMDb I will never know. I got everything I wanted from this movie and more. Throw in a few surprise cameos and you have yourself a winner.

For a movie that has a ton of very funny people, this is not a very funny film. The filmmaker seems to think repeating the clichés of a RomCom and winking sidelong at the audience makes the old clichés funny but really it doesn't. They're still tired and worn out clichés that make this difficult to sit through without getting bored. That is not good satire! I agree, it's difficult to send up a genre: Airplane and Galaxy Quest can't be made everyday. But I feel like this film is more in the same vein as the nth Scary Movie or Not Another Teen Movie: not worth the time to watch them. It's too bad because a lot of good talent goes to waste here.

I love a good parody. This was definitely a parody. I can't say for sure if it was a good one. All of my favorite actors are in this movie. Every other scene, a new random actor pops in and pops back out. Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler are amazing, per usual. This is the first time I've seen Jason Mantzoukas play a character that wasn't clinically insane. All of the elements for greatness are there, and yet it's still only mediocre. I think if you go into it with your expectations low, you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you go in expecting greatness because of the cast list, you'll probably be a little disappointed. Still worth a watch.

A small business owner (Amy Poehler) is about to lose her shop to a major corporate development.

This film seems to get a bad rap, with people saying it is not a good satire or parody. I respectfully, and strongly, disagree. So many movie conventions are turned on their head. Obviously, the traditional romantic comedy blueprint, but even more than that. And some moments had me laughing out loud (literally).

Although "Wet Hot American Summer" is considered a modern classic by some, I think "They Came Together" is the superior film. It's more mature, more consistent. Maybe it will take a few years, but I see this becoming a cult film.

2 1/2 out of 4 stars.

David Wain's "They Came Together" is a parody of all romantic comedies. It's a film that knows what it is and plays off of it. It's a simple story of boy meets girl, boy and girl fight, boy and girl separate, and boy and girl get back together. If you've ever seen a romantic comedy, you know what this story is and what will happen. Thanks to a talented cast, though, this film works for the most part. Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler (who worked with Wain on "Wet Hot American Summer") have very good chemistry and the rest of the cast laughs along with them.

I went into this film skeptical about it and walked away laughing more than I thought I would. It's a silly movie that feels like a cult film. The humor can be very forced at times, but, for the most part, the jokes work. If you're looking for a good short laugh, you won't be wasting your money. There's a bunch of cameos and witty humor that will keep you engaged. This isn't a film that's trying to be great, and if you accept that, you'll have a fun time.