DIR: Mark Mylod • WRI: Gabrielle Allan, Jennifer Crittenden, Karyn Bosnak • PRO: Kathy Busby, Gitty Daneshvari, Beau Flynn, Daryl Freimark, Jordana Glick-Franzheim, Tripp Vinson• DOP: J. Michael Muro • ED: Julie Monroe • DES: Jon Billington • CAST: Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Ari Graynor
What’s Your Number is a thought-provoking dramedy, which pokes gentle fun at modern-day dating rituals and gender roles, with its distinctive, dry and offbeat wit. Not! It’s actually a bog-standard Hollywood Romantic Comedy starring Scary Movie’s Anna Faris and one quarter of the Fantastic Four (not to be confused with former Channel 4 presenter), Chris Evans.
Boston local, Ally Darling (Faris) finds herself unemployed, single and desperate, as her younger sister’s wedding fast approaches. After reading in a magazine that women can’t find a husband after they’ve slept with over 20 men – which is conveniently enough her own ‘magic number’ – she decides to scour her exes for a potential Mr. Right. She enlists the help of her devilishly handsome neighbour, Colin (Evans), and together the good-looking pair begin the search for everyone Ally’s ever hooked up with.
For the fans of TV sitcoms there are some great comedic performances and familiar faces dappled among the exes; some of the highlights include Community’s Joel McHale, The Office star Chris Pratt, and even Andy Samberg got off his Lonely Planet boat for a quick cameo.
Surprisingly Chris Evans manages to bring some genuine warmth to a barely-likeable character; meanwhile Anna Faris stays in zany mode throughout the whole film. This admittedly at times can be amusing, but is mostly just grating, much like a cute but highly-strung poodle that keeps pooping all over a new carpet. Also, judging from her acting in the toast scene, Anna has apparently never seen an actual real-life drunk person.
The overall premise although chauvinistic, is executed fairly well considering its ridiculousness. The tone of the film is all over the place; hopping from sentimental to just plain mental at the drop of a hat; but somehow still manages to tick all the boxes – it’s entertaining, humorous and goes to the odd surprising place now and again. While What’s Your Number will never be analysed in the Leaving Cert for subtext, it’s a bit of fun and does exactly what it says on the tin.
Gemma Creagh
Rated 15A (see IFCO website for details)
What’s Your Number is released on 30th September 2011
What’s Your Number – Official Website
Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9stplJF1ek
