Review of 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom (2012) by The Movie W — 17 Dec 2012

There are comedies that try and there are comedies that succeed. 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom definitely tries to succeed but derails at the point it is supposed to be breakthrough. It's unfortunate because it started red hot but cooled to freezing temperatures.

The story was basic but the writing was sharp and the acting was great. Frankie and his family are comedy gold; especially his brother Bruce who moonlights as a director and the proverbial thorn in Frankie's ass.

FGB is about Bruce making a video of Frankie having sex. Unbeknownst to Frankie and Bruce, the girls' father is a hot tempered porn director who works with Bruce and the goal is to get dvd back before dad finds out.

It all started with non stop laughs. Funny situations were in abundance only to be topped by the actors brilliantly bringing it all together. But what should have remained a story about two brothers in hot pursuit of a dvd turns into a love story.

There was not one sign of this movie taking a There's Something About Mary detour. Last 10 minutes all the comic antics stop and now Frankie is head over hills for a girl he barely knows. A few scenes were shown of Frankie wanting to pursue a date but nothing that indicated it all would take a quick 180 from slapstick to romcom.

I'm not overly disappointed because the beginning was so well done and the acting was incredible. But I can't give a pass to a movie that drops an effective strategy for a plot that was never introduced.