She’s Out of My League stays true to the romantic comedy formula. Boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, and then they reunite after a long chase at the end of the film. While staying true to the genre, and adding enough vulgarity to earn its R’ rating, the film is also very funny and also very sweet. I’m not sure what Jay Baruchel picked up from Ben Stiller when they worked together on Tropic Thunder, but as Stiller moves on to more mature works, Baruchel is more than capable of picking up the mantle of forlorn, awkward guy who you root for to win the girl in the end.
Baruchel is Kirk, an underachieving airport security officer at the Pittsburgh International Airport. He dreams of someday being a pilot, yet he doesn’t have the confidence to go after that dream. Kirk spends his days hanging out at the airport with his best friends, sarcastic Stainer (T.J. Miller), studly Jack (Mike Vogel) and eternally optimistic Devon (Nate Torrence). One morning, beautiful, down to earth Molly (Alice Eve) is rushing to a plane and leaves her cell phone at the security scanners. She has her snarky best friend, Patty (Krysten Ritter) call the phone. When Kirk answers, he promises to hold the phone until Molly returns to Pittsburgh.
Touched by Kirk’s genuineness and goodness, Molly asks him on a date. Surprisingly, they hit it off. Not surprisingly, no one can believe that a hot babe like Molly would actually date a schlub like Kirk. But Molly’s had her heart broken and is looking for a “nice” guy, someone safe. As we quickly learn, she is the quintessential girl next door. Not only is she gorgeous with a great personality, she loves hockey, knows how to party, and is as quick with a comeback as any of Kirk’s crude friends or his completely obnoxious family. The scene by the pool when Kirk’s brother invites Molly to swim in her underwear and why she tells him she can’t is priceless.
As this film follows its particular formula to a T’, you know that this romance is going to hit some snags. Those snags include Molly’s ex boyfriend, a rugged jet pilot played by Geoff Stults (very funny) and Kirk’s controlling ex-girlfriend, Marnie, who doesn’t like that her ex has stepped up in the romance department (after she dumped him). The biggest roadblock keeping Kirk and Molly from being happy is Kirk’s lack of confidence. His dumb ass friend, Stainer, has convinced Kirk that he’s a ‘5’ on the hotness scale and that Molly is a definite ’10.’ Stainer constantly berates Kirk into believing that the relationship is bound to fail and sure enough, Kirk screws things up. Once again, since She’s Out of My League is following a tried and true formula, things are going to work out.
But that’s okay. She’s Out of My League is funny enough, with plenty of laugh out loud moments (Torrence crouched between Baruchel’s legs for a pube trimming has to be seen), that sticking to the formula works. Moreover, Baruchel and Eve are really a good pairing. Their rapport is very natural and it never feels phony in convincing you that Molly is falling in love with a ”safe” guy like Kirk. Baruchel has a puppy dog charm to him that makes him so likable that you can’t help but root for the guy and Eve comes off as the coolest hot babe in cinema since Cameron Diaz in There’s Something About Mary. The supporting cast is really strong in this film. Ritter is a riot (as usual) and Torrence nearly brought me to tears a couple times during the film. Also in the film is Debra Jo Rupp, who is underappreciated in Hollywood since That 70’s Show came to an end. Hey Hollywood, give this lady more to do!
Unlike so many films that contain the level of raunch, currently being tagged ”Apatowian,” I found that She’s Out of My League actually sustained its humor and heart for most of its duration. The third act felt a little strained, but the rest of the film more than made up for it. She’s Out of My League may be formulaic, but it delivers the laughs.
The DVD and Blu-ray releases of the movie feature deleted scenes including an extended ending, a blooper reel, a hilarious ”do’s and don’ts” guide to dating for guys called ”Devon’s Dating Show” hosted by Nate Torrence and Kyle Bornheimer (You Again) and commentary by director Jim Field Smith.
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