Review of She's Funny That Way (2015) by Patrick L — 29 Sep 2015

"She's Funny That Way is not funny, it's just a complete misfire from director Peter Bogdanovich".

Movie Review: She's Funny That Way.

Date Viewed: August 25 2015.

Directed By Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon and What's Up, Doc?).

Written By Louise Stratten and Peter Bogdanovich.

Starring: Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots, Kathryn Hahn, Jennifer Aniston, Will Forte, Rhys Ifans, Richard Lewis, Cybill Shepherd,.

Sydney Lucas, Debi Mazar, Illeana Douglas, Jennifer Esposito and Joanna Lumley.

The new screwball comedy "She's Funny That Way" is not funny, it's just a complete misfire from director Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon and What's Up, Doc?). Instead of being a screwball comedy, it's just screwed. Bogdanovich and his ex-wife, Louise Stratten wrote the script to this movie 15 years ago and they originally wanted John Ritter for the lead but due to his untimely death in 2003, the project was shelved. Several years later, Bogdanovich became friends with Owen Wilson and he decided to cast him in the role he originally envisioned for Ritter.

Okay, with a legendary director at the helm and a talented cast that includes Rhys Ifans, Will Forte, Jennifer Aniston, Richard Lewis and Cybill Shepherd, "She's Funny That Way" could've been a fun screwball comedy but the narrative is a mess and most the screwball bits fall flat on the director's face.

The movie follows a call girl turned Broadway-thespian named Izzy (Imogen Poots) who falls for two men, a Broadway director, Arnold Albertson (Owen Wilson) and a playwright, Josh Fleet (Will Forte). They both fall for her despite the fact they already have women in their lives, Arnold is married to the play's star, Delta Simmons (Kathryn Hahn) and Josh is currently dating a therapist, Jane Claremont (Jennifer Aniston).

When Delta learns of Arnold's past affairs, her fellow actor Seth Gilbert (Rhys Ifans) finally has a opportunity to start a relationship with her. Soon, more mishaps and misunderstandings ensue and the movie turns into a cooked turkey. Ladies and gentlemen, "She's Funny That Way" is the 35th candidate to enter the Worst Movies of 2015 race.

Peter Bogdanovich hasn't had a hit in quite a long time and maybe it's finally time to call it a day here. Tiresome and desperate, "She's Funny That Way" is a miserable failure from director and co-writer Bogdanovich.