Why Him?: Movie Review

Writer/director John Hamburg has delivered some great modern comedy screenplays with “Zoolander”, “Meet the Parents”, and “I Love You, Man”.  He also has his fair share of misses with “Along Came Polly”, the two “Focker” sequels, and the unwatchable “Zoolander 2”.  His latest effort which he wrote and directed is about right there in the middle.  “Why Him?” isn’t terrible, but I think the cast is responsible for keeping it from becoming a disaster.

Ned Fleming (Bryan Cranston) has always had a hard time letting go of his daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch). When he learns about her new boyfriend, Laird (James Franco), Ned travels out to California along with his wife Barb (Megan Mullally) and his son Scotty (Griffin Gluck).  The Fleming’s get more than they bargained for when they realize that Laird is an internet millionaire with no verbal filter. Every other word out of his mouth is of the dirty variety and Scotty is the only one who seems to enjoy that.

Needless-to-say, Ned dislikes Laird from the start. That doesn’t stop the daughter-dater from going overboard trying to impress the Flemings.  Not only does Laird have the family’s Christmas card tattooed on his back, but he also has professional bowling lanes installed in the home, equipped with a mural of Ned in his bowling shirt.

The essential premise here is akin-to “Meet the Parents”, the big difference though is that Laired is an extremely honest person, unlike Ben Stiller’s Focker who tried to cover up his mistakes.  Laird is honest to a fault. The problem is that Ned can’t get past Laird’s tattooed, foul-mouthed candy coating.

I am not spoiling anything by saying that the two will eventually find a common understanding of each other which will help everything work out.  That’s how these movies always end.  Although I did laugh a few times, I found “Why Him?” to be more idiotic than funny.  Keegan-Michael Key does do a fair amount of scene-stealing here as Laird’s estate manager and friend.  He is one of those employees who gives-a-damn about his boss.  He also knows that Stephanie is the best thing that has ever happened to Laird and will do anything possible to help him impress her family. I thought that was a nice touch.

There are going be plenty of people who will absolutely love “Why Him?”.  I may not have laughed a whole lot, but the audience I screened the film with sure did. Then again, a bunch of people around me laughed in “Bad Santa 2” and for the life of me I can’t understand why.

By: Marc Ferman