Man Up, film review: More soppy British sitcom than genuine screwball
(15) Ben Palmer, 92 mins. Starring: Simon Pegg, Lake Bell
When it comes to playing sad, British singleton-types in their mid-30s, US actresses seem to do it better than our own home-grown talent. Following on from Renée Zellweger in the Bridget Jones films, US actress Lake Bell (director and star of In a World...) plays the lovelorn heroine in this spirited, if very predictable romcom.
The plotting is formulaic – Nancy (Bell) meets Jack (Simon Pegg) at Waterloo Station on a blind date intended for someone else. They hit it off, quote their favourite lines from Wall Street and Silence of the Lambs to one another and go boozing and ten-pin bowling together, but then the doubts set in.
It is Bell's film – she is sassy, cynical, funny, occasionally self-pitying and gets most of the best lines. Pegg is the straight man to her fiery comedienne. They make an engaging couple with a very effective comic rapport but the film itself is more soppy British sitcom than genuine screwball. It is never quite as anarchic as it should have been.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies