She's Funny That Way (2014)

Why so much hype?

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

So few good farces written nowdays, this one is REALLY good. I predict this will be good for years, too. Like you could watch it again even. Out of a possible ten I give it a twelve and I am going to remember the writers and directors so I can look for more.

Most reviews on this film say that it's a nostalgic nod to the old Hollywood screwball comedies and it has a terrific cast. I'd like to weigh in with my 2 cents on these two aspects. Firstly, flicks where the characters constantly find themselves in the awkward embarrassing situations give me anxiety and an urge to look away. And She's Funny That Way has plenty of such situations, because you know, the film is about a run-of-the-mill call-girl who sleeps with the director, and is seen leaving his hotel room by an actor who's acting in the director's play and who was romantically involved with the director's wife, also an actress, and then, said wife comes to town, and the call-girl gets a role in their play, and... you get the idea. Yet all the characters bounce back from awkward encounters and disclosures with admirable ease, grace, and humor very rare in films. It's a truly funny, charming comedy with a zesty yet innocent premise and terrific actors. Everybody raves about the main cast, especially a do-gooder Owen Wilson and hysterical Jennifer Aniston, and I'd also like to give a shoutout to talented British actress Lucy Punch who has a small role of a Russian prostitute barely speaking English and whose comedic talent makes her few scenes one of the most hilarious ones in the movie. Bottomline, this comedy is a cinematic joy and we need more films like it.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why this film was titled She's Funny That Way, but the odd title notwithstanding, this is one funny movie! It isn't funny in a modern way, either; it feels like a 1930s screwball comedy. Gone are the days when movies rely solely on verbal banter, but Peter Bogdanovich has created a classic for today's audiences.The film alternates between the actual story and Imogen Poots's character's interview from after the story's end. I don't happen to think Poots is very pretty look at on the screen, but there's nothing wrong with her acting or her very thick, adorable New York accent. Included in the fast-paced story is a cast of colorful characters including a womanizing playwright, a hooker with a heart of gold, and an incompetent therapist. Set in New York, with quick, clever dialogue, this film reminds me of a Woody Allen movie. Even Poots's over-the-top accent sounds like Allen coached her. So if you like his movies, you'll like this one. If you like classics, you'll like this one. If you like clever humor, well, you'll like this one. It's funny that way, you know?

I'm 60 live in a retirement/nursing home with congestive heart failure caused by a heart attack I had in 2009 while working in the Middle East for ten years. I've had an interesting life, but I'm not very smart and not very sophisticated. So I liked this movie a lot. It resembles parts of my own life and parts of my friends lives minus the glamor and stuff. When I saw the movie "Saint Vincent" I wanted to sue someone for stealing my life, I get to see more movies now that I'm retired and disabled. So many of you seem so unhappy and so cynical now that I've had time to slow down after 33 years of being busy and see what you all are up to. I liked and loved this movie, it reminds me of real life. I can just imagine the reaction of some of you out there to that statement, you shoulda got a life before it killed your dreams and your heart. Some people actually do have lives that come close to this movie, "She's Funny That Way" ---shocking isn't it. All some of us have is what we lived, dreamed and are...