What happens if you take a movie that was actually fairly good, take out all the A-list talent, replace it with a bunch of half-baked leftovers and a soupcon of hot chicks, then add in some of the lowest-tier scatological humor to date? What you should get, unquestionably, is a lousy movie. But what you get, almost in spite of its truly horrific components, is actually a fairly good movie with plenty of comedy and just enough drama to make you think.
We’re back to Shenaniganz this time around, and they’re in a real mess. A new restauarant, Ta-Ta’s Wing Shack has opened up across the street from them, and it’s doing horrible things to the numbers at Shenaniganz. And yet, it’s doing horrible things to the people who work there too. And as we spend a night with the crews of Shenaniganz and Ta-Ta’s Wing Shack, we discover that they’ve all got a lot of things to think about in their lives, even as their worlds coincide occasionally.
It’s hard to say, with a movie like this, just where exactly you should begin talking about it. I mean, there’s every reason that you should just blow it off and forget it even exists. They’re so desperate for people to watch this dreck that they’re willing to include a Hooters knockoff. That’s really very desperate when you get right down to it.
They lost their big-name talent–Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris are literally nowhere to be seen here. Justin Long shows up for a good three minutes to take on the most bizarre role I’ve ever seen him play. Meanwhile, they’ve kept all the dreck. Oh, sure, I like Chi McBride and Luis Guzman as much as the next guy, but they aren’t exactly the kinds to hold up a movie. Okay, maybe Chi McBride could if they’d just give him half a freaking chance but that’s neither here nor there. I’d like it on record that I still do not find Andy Milonakis funny, despite the fact that he STILL looks like he’s twelve and yet he’s older THAN I AM.
But like I said–though the components here should have made this look like last week’s leftovers, it still manages to come off smelling like a rose. The whole of the movie was actually worthwhile, with most of the jokes landing easily and pulling off their effect. I loved when Chi McBride got in there and pulled that really great surprise twist on one of the waiters. I liked how one of the Ta-Ta’s girls got this really great lecture from a stripper who had gone down virtually the same road that she was looking to go down, and yet she got entirely the wrong point.
And I’m still vaguely mystified by the whole “women love assholes” concept. Trust me, they’ll be harping on this all throughout the movie.
There are lessons to be learned here–perhaps the biggest is to never be too unpleasant with the people who handle your food, because there will be revenge and it will be highly unpleasant. Oh, and stick around past the credits, even if you have to fast forward through Andy Milonakis’ horrible rap song. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Strangely, that’s all you can really say about Still Waiting. It’s not the best dish on the menu, by far. But it’s not really that unpleasant, either. It’s probably a better rental than anything.
Stars Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are re-teaming for the romantic comedy Going the Distance for New Line.
Nanette Burstein.
Psychological thriller After.Life – with the period in the middle – has