Review: Trainwreck (2015)

Director: Judd Apatow | 125 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, LeBron James, Colin Quinn, John Cena, Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller, Vanessa Bayer, Randall Park, Jon Glaser, Evan Brinkman, Mike Birbiglia, Norman Lloyd, Daniel Radcliffe, Marisa Tomei, Method Man, Amar’e Stoudemire, Nikki Glaser

Amy (Amy Schumer) is an editor at a gossip magazine. She goes through life drinking and sex and does not believe in monogamy and steady relationships. She takes care of her troublesome father who is in a home and is close to her younger sister. When Amy has to write a big article about the successful sports doctor Aaron (Bill Hader) she finds herself falling for him and he for her. Is Amy able to enter into a full-fledged relationship without ruining herself?

Amy Schumer is a big hit in 2015. The comedian who has her own sketch show “Inside Amy Schumer” on Comedy Central is suddenly everywhere. With her friendly face, she fools everyone when she makes hard jokes about drink, sex and especially herself. Her own show is so successful that famous names line up to work with her and the show was nominated for multiple Emmys in 2015. Schumer writes her shows herself and her talent was soon noticed by Judd Apatow (‘Knocked Up’, ‘This is 40’) who was eager to make a movie with her. Now there is ‘Trainwreck’ written by Schumer and directed by Apatow. The film is partly biographical: in addition to the same name, Schumer also has a sister with whom she is close and a father with MS.

Schumer holds her own in the lead role, besides the jokes she is also convincing in the serious scenes. Bill Hader is well chosen as a love interest. Hader, who, like Schumer, is best known for his comedy work, makes Aaron a likeable character. In the supporting roles, we also see a strong Brie Larson as Amy’s sister and Colin Quinn who, as Amy’s father, immediately steals the show in the opening scene. Surprising are the roles of basketball star LeBron James who has a lot of comic talent and an almost unrecognizable Tilda Swinton as the boss from hell.

Comparisons with films such as ‘Bridesmaids’ are easily made. Not surprising, because director Judd Apatow produced ‘Bridesmaids’ and the coarse humor from that film can also be found in ‘Trainwreck’. Although in ‘Trainwreck’ it might go a step further. With strong jokes about sex, tampons and monogamy, both women and men will enjoy the plot. The main difference is the main thing between the movies. In ‘Bridesmaids’ the film was mainly about the friendship between two best friends and romance was a side issue, but in ‘Trainwreck’ love is more important. The plot is pretty standard in that respect and follows all conventional rom-com clichés. Still, this is never disturbing because Amy’s character is so original. However, the film will stretch to the end with its two hours,

‘Trainwreck’ is a refreshing romantic comedy that gives rising star Amy Schumer every opportunity to shine. The harsh humor and the sometimes clearly improvised scenes are a hit. But the best thing about the film is that while you laugh you subconsciously go along with the romance and you really hope for a happy ending.