Labor Day. It is a time when kids are preparing to go back to school and families are getting in their last bit of vacation time. It is not a time for movies, and based on past years, studios are well aware. That is why this weekend is often considered a 'drop' week; when studios take old films that are collecting dust on their shelves, and release them in hopes of of making a buck or two. 99.9% of the time, these titles generate no buzz and little cash; however, every now and then, one will rise to the occasion and use the holiday to its advantage. This year, we are greeted with a long list of 'drop' films, but none quite as promising as the Sandra Bullock-Bradley Cooper comedy All About Steve.
Unlike the other films, All About Steve came into the weekend with some hype and unexpected buzz. The Proposal and The Hangover debuted well in previous months, and audiences were hoping to score the same laughs with this film - sadly, none of that came to fruition. Instead, viewers are greeted with a half-hearted comedy that tries too hard to be awkward, becoming sad and disheartening by film's end.
Sandra Bullock, one of my favorite actresses who I long to meet in person, plays Mary Horowitz, an eccentric crossword puzzle constructor who gets the wrong idea when a blind date becomes weirded out by her insistency to unveil random facts on some of human nature's most random topics. She is smart, almost too smart for her own good. Bullock's style and delivery make her sympathetic and fun, the film's lone positive force. Her speech impediment is cute and not overbearing, as is her crazy fashion and red hot boots. She is adorable to a certain degree; though, additionally, crazy and psychotic all the same.
Regretfully, the same can't be said for either of Bullock's co-stars, Bradley Cooper and Thomas Haden Church, as both come across as arrogant and crude, failing to generate any amount of measurable humor during the film. Their on-screen chemistry isn't necessarily bad; however, their dialogue interchanges made me question their acting ability as I found myself zoning out for minutes at a time.
The story, which tells of a girl and her energetic charge to be there for the man of the moment, had potential. The premise was promising and the cast led me to believe that this was an overlooked project. Yet, not ten minutes in, I fully understood why the film had been held on to for so long. Not only was the progression but the entire state of circumstances were so far fetched that the film doesn't really connect with anyone over the age of seven. The humor was dull, dry and rarely funny, and the conclusion was over-the-top in nearly every way, shape and form. I mean sure, I found it to be mildly entertaining, but that was mainly due to Bullock's involvement. Take her out and I would have been begging for credits before the initial blind date ever occurred.
Both Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper will be praying that you remember their earlier summer hits instead of this doozy of a picture. But one must remember, they chose this film, no matter how long ago, and we all must live with our mistakes.
