My Best Friend's Girl

It's one of those eternal quandaries Hollywood revolves around: Everyone likes a good, funny dirty movie -- but what's the perfect ratio of funny-to-dirty that equals good? Hit that combination perfectly and you get The Forty-Year-Old Virgin or Superbad; get the mix wrong and you're sitting through The Heartbreak Kid or Good Luck Chuck. My Best Friend's Girl, starring Dane Cook, Jason Biggs and Kate Hudson, manages to get the dirty part of the equation consistently and well -- I'd like to quote some of the movie's dialogue to you, but outside of character names and articles like "and," "the" and "of," I don't think I can. Does that mean it gets to good?

I'm not sure, but I can tell you, somewhat abashedly, that My Best Friend's Girl was a lot further away from bad than I though it was going to be. And maybe I'm weak, or easily amused, but there are a few laughs in My Best Friend's Girl. They're not necessarily in the plot, which involves bad-boy Cook being hired by nice-guy sad-sack Biggs to make his recent romance Kate Hudson realize that Biggs is far better than he seems. The film also establishes, early on, that this isn't the first time Cook's done this to help a guy out; in fact, it's a big part-time moneymaker for him. What makes this time different is that Biggs and Cook are cousins and roommates -- and that Cook and Hudson's supposed-to-be-a-disaster-date actually turns into something kind of, sort of, like a romance.

And so the player becomes the played; the good girl finds the man under the bad boy; love grows out of strange soil; a masquerade becomes the thing it was meant to counterfeit, and then our pretender must apologize; you could make My Best Friend's Girl out of the bits left behind in the spare parts bin from the garage where every romantic comedy in the past ten years has been assembled. But Cook has, as ever, a squirrelly energy to his profane ramblings; Hudson is perfectly acceptable as the girl; there are nicely-spun supporting moments from Alec Baldwin as Cook's womanizing father and Lizzy Caplan as Hudson's wild, wacky hipster roommate. There are some great, shameful sight gags -- including the best blasphemous frequent-purchaser rewards-card joke imaginable -- and, more interestingly, My Best Friend's Girl isn't afraid to go to some grim, bleak places you wouldn't expect as Cook tries to derail happiness out of his sense of self-loathing. My Best Friend's Girl goes over the top a lot, but it also at least tries to come back to character when it returns.

Director Howard Deutch is best known for gentler romances like Pretty in Pink and softer comedies like Grumpier Old Men, and parts of My Best Friend's Girl feel conspicuously like Deutsch is trying too hard to fit in with the younger crowd of new comedy film makers, like watching your uncle put his hip out trying to dance to Kanye West. The other thing is that I may very well be judging My Best Friend's Girl on a curve that's been rendered much steeper -- and much lower -- by Cook's previous romantic comedy, Good Luck Chuck, because no matter how broad or coarse or crude My Best Friend's Girl gets, it looks subtle, sensitive and charming in comparison to the gross-out, woman-hating idiocy of Good Luck Chuck. The DVD's commentary from director Deutsch actually explains, in detail, how much intelligence and decision-making goes into making a dumb comedy in our modern age; Deutsch actually refers to My Best Friend's Girl as a 'shock romantic comedy"; I wasn't aware that was a genre now, but I guess it is, and I guess My Best Friend's Girl could be a worse example of one.

Other DVD extras include commentary from Biggs alongside writer Jordan Cahan and producer Greg Lessans, plus some making-of material, deleted and extended scenes and a few throwaway gag bits that actually get a few laughs; Hearing Alec Baldwin discuss playing " ... the most disgusting, sexually selfish guy I've seen in a film in a long time ..." is good for a few chuckles. If I'd paid movie-theater prices to see My Best Friend's Girl, I'd probably have rioted, but at home -- where no one could see me laughing at some of the stupider comedy bits -- it has a few laughs in it. My Best Friend's Girl is vulgar but vibrant; it may be ugly, but there are at least a few moments when it seems alive.

Comments

[Moira]

This was one of the raunchiest movies I ever saw. The language and behavior was right in the gutter.

[Annissa]

I loved this movie. It was so friggin funny. His jokes go so fast that you may miss it if you're actively listening. This movie is some of Dane Cook's best work.

[M]

This movie was hillarious! Dane Cook is such a great comedian.

[Nick]

This was such a funny movie that turned into a love story but kept me laughing the whole time. Dane Cook ROCKS!!!!

[Ugonna]

I agree with the first comment- I felt dirty after enduring all the raunchy humor...to each's own, I guess?

[Tara]

I loved this move it was hilarious!!! And to the people that said it was raunchy... HELLO it has Dank Cook in it its going to have some Raunch. Gees.

[LB]

To each his own is right! I LOVED it! I agree, some of Dane's best. Purely entertainment! Don't take it seriously! We need more laughter in this world today and Dane is the man for the job!!!!!!!

[RAUNCHY is YO MAMA]

I loved it!! Hilarious!! OMG!! Raunchy?WHATEVER LOSEERS GET A LIFE!!

[Heather]

I LOVED THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!! HILARIOUS!

[Kristi]

One of the best and funny movies in a long, long time. Loved the crude humor. It very clearly says on the movie cover just how crude it would be, so that was fair warning for all you folks that like to sip your tea with a pinky high in the air.

[mia]

THIS MOVIE SUCKED!!!!!!bigtime

[Laurin]

Hilarious movie that keeps you laughing as long as you have that GUY sense of humor. Good date movie also because guys will think the dirty humor is hilarious but the love story is good for us girls. I thought it was a great mix. I am buying this movie!!! In reaction to others comments...there are tons of movies that have crude sexual humor and they are hilarious...how do ya'll even watch good movies if you dont like this as these are the best movies!

[Adam]

This is the funniest movie I have ever seen!!

I went back and saw it 3 times in the theatre!

Loved it!

[Mika]

It was ok, if you can't find another movie this is cute.

[Sonny]

This was undoubtedly about one of the worst movies I have ever started, I say started because I could not finish it it was so bad!!!

[judy]

Dane Cook sucks - he looks like a serial killer most of the time.

[JRBear]

This was a real pleasant surprise. I rented it with no expectations.
It was marketed as a typical 'chick flick', centering on Kate Hudson, but turns out to be more of a "American Pie". Had some really insightful things about relationships (how women always want the 'bad boy', until they get a real one), some nudity, lots of gross-out and very un-PC comedy; a real 'guy flick'!
I thought it was funnier than "40 Yr. Old Virgin".

The only real downer in this movie is how "out of it" Kate Hudson seemed. She looks much older than the guys fighting over her. (even though she really isn't). She had the same bad spray-tan, and bad attitude, as in that recent "island" movie she did with Matt McConnehay. She seems so un-likable, it made me wonder how either of the male leads could ever like her. Her roommate in it, Lizzy Caplan, steals every scene, and should've been given Kate's role. The movie tanked at the Box Office with Kate being the main promo tool. Kate has no "Star Power" anymore, so why bother with her?

[Joey, Colorado]

Very raunchy, funny overall - hilarious at times, annoying and NOT funny at other times. I have to admit - the raunchy parts are the funniest.

[Laura]

We thought it was funny! Raunchy language but Dane is supposed to be a raunchy date...get it folks! Quick, naughty humor with a sweet undertone. I think Kate & Dane work well together...I would watch it again!

[Gerry]

I never liked Dane Cook, I always thought his jokes were soo NOT funny.. Then I saw this movie, and it was hilarious. The funniest movie I have seen in a very long time. It was really good. You have to have immature/sarcastic humor to deal with it though. Kind of like a Harold and Kumar or Napoleon Dynamite funny, except dirty at times. You have to see it!

[JRBear]

i guess my 1st try was too long.
This is a very funny movie to me, a guy...it was promoted as a 'chick flick', but turns out to be a total 'guy flick'. Women may not like it, men for sure will. Kate Hudson was mis-cast, or at least her role was very un-likable. Her roommate in it, Lizzy Caplan, seen in many TV shows, steals every scene she's in. She should've been the leading lady.

[Lisa]

This movie was great! I watched it with my husband and some of it reminded me of when we were dating. It made me remember why we got together in the first place. It was a welcome getaway for an hour and a half from the daily grind of work and parenting, and made us laugh-alot. Definitely something that should be watched after the kids go to bed, due to the language. We enjoyed it because we both have a warped sense of humor.

[Denice]

It was an awful movie. Raunchy doesn't even start to describe the filth and dirt. Are we coming to this? Can't something be funny without having to be raw sex and vomit?

[jesus lira]

Movie was Great! raunchy is what people are saying......perhaps we should have done some homework before renting our movies it clearly states that there is crude humor, nudity, ect. before you rent it.....so why should you complain I personally loved the movie.

[Locke Peterseim]

Count me down firmly on the "omg, so so nasty and so so funny" side. I had a brief flirtation with laughing at Cook a few years back, but it faded fast when it became clear he only really has one speed, one style, one joke. (Judy's observation "he looks like a serial killer most of the time" is hilarious and dead-on, so to speak.) But my god he worked perfectly for Best Friend's Girl.

(Though for me the absolutely hilarious rewind-again-and-again joke was nothing raunchy or crude, but simply Bigg's salon eyebrow mishap.)

[Dee from KC]

Disappointed, I agree the language was too much. It had it's cute and funny parts but would only rate it one and a half stars.

Can't stand Alec Baldwin.

[Jenna]

It was boring, unfunny, and overboard lewd. I turned it off after 10-15 minutes when it was going nowhere to entertain me.

[Jim]

Reading the comments, I guess only girls (with crushes) find Dane Cook to be funny. He bores me to tears but I guess Hollywood is going to keep pushing him on us for the next 20 years, because of these girls with their Entertainment Tonight induced crushes.

[Deborah]

This movie is for young guys that thing this stuff is funny! I thought it was disgusting! Not what I expected Kate to be in. I've seen way better.

[jay]

would have been better, if they got rid of some of the really foul language/behavior. that way we could watch it over and over, even if the kids were home. too bad. one less movie to add to our collection.

[Big red]

I have not seen the movie yet however, I was just taking a look to see what others thought of it to see if i might be interested before watching. And after reading the posted comments i must make one of my own. If you are complaining because of the raunchy humor in the movie you're likely an idiot because any person, just as i am now, can look at the previews, ratings, and comments of any movie they wish to see. And for that reason you have no right to say the movie wasn't good because the humor was to raunchy for liking. Pay attention and open your eyes plus use your brain, read a little and quickly you'll discover that this movie contains raunchy material before you even see the movie. What a concept huh?? Besides if you have half a brain cell in your less than par head you'll already know that this is exactly how all of Dane Cook's movies are.

[Ray Watson]

It was okay. Nothing to write home about.