I don’t mean to start this review with a really harsh sentiment, or to even pick on one actor but seeing as it is James Franco, I’m going to allow myself this moment. Though he has excelled in dramas such as The Howl, Milk and 127 Hours, Franco has fallen into this slimy actor persona where he strains through comedies, embarrasses in the likes of Spring Breakers (though everyone embarrasses in that movie.)
While the hoopla has died away, he also tried it on with an underage girl which has never really left our minds. He has this sleezy persona that you just cannot shake. So, yes, I’ll admit there was instant trepidation when approaching Why Him?
In good news, however, his whole act kinda works in the comedy. In fact, it makes him the second next performer next to Bryan Cranston. Which isn’t hard to do because the film is a complete bore.
Following the same hijinks and hoopla that made the likes of Look Who’s Come to Dinner and Meet the Fockers, the film revolves around Ned, an overprotective dad with a daughter who is dating douchebag billionaire Laird. As the pair bond, the latter is determined to win the former over as they meet over the course of five days, but Ned, taking an instant disliking to this dishelved and batty young-un has other ideas. Soon the holidays turn into a battle of wills as Laird ramps up the affection for Ned, pulling all the stops to impress his father in law.
Yes, kudos to the acting talent who pull all their collective talents together to produce something watchable but ultimately, they are wasted in his tiresome and cliched trope. Comedies since the dawn of time have relied on the heavy alpha male fight in betrothed families where the Dad is disgruntled because no man is good enough for his precious daughter. He wears a furrowed brow and a judgmental look that never wavers until right at the end where he makes a happy quip of affection to the fella. The boyfriend is usually naive and clumsy, making these haphazard mistakes in order to win over the parents. The women – yeah – they are chagrined smiley people who are sidelined for this exhaustive premise. All of this is cultivated in Why Him? that even reading the title you’ll know how the story is going to play out which makes it dull before you’ve even started.
Cranston is ever the professional here, however. You can never acuse that man of giving anything less than 100% into his roles. He always performs and embodies the character though it’s really the writting that undersells Ned. Up against Franco’s bewildering Laird (in quite a good performance,) Cranston is the straight-faced man who encompasses the role quite well. Together, they string out minimal laughs but the chemistry in the set up works well enough to keep you awake until the very end.
Not exactly making waves this festive period with Rogue One firmly on the top of the Box Office, Why Him? is a plodding film helped only by the chemistry of it’s two leads.
Why Him? is out Boxing Day.
