Would you like to see a movie that’s genuinely smart-witty funny, as opposed to dumbed-down farcical? A romantic comedy that’s contemporary-romantic, instead of sentimental and same-old, one that needs no apologies as a guilty pleasure but is simply pleasure-full, period? Maybe a movie that’s like “one of those great British rom-coms,” from the ‘90s or 2000s?
Hey, I’ve got it right here.
And if you’re a fan of Simon Pegg – even if you just know him as that funny British guy from the Mission Impossible movies – and if perhaps you like Lake Bell (leading lady/writer/director of In a World), then all the better, because they’re the ones who star in this movie, and they’re both at their best.
I’d like to tell you more about why you should go see Man Up this weekend, if you’re in Los Angeles or New York City (it’s soon expanding across the country to more theaters and then opening On Demand and digital everywhere), but I can’t. First of all because I hate being hyped about things, so I've already said too much - I think the best way to see a movie is if you know very little about it and/or you’ve been told that it sucks (the Law of Diminished Expectations).
And secondly, re: this particular movie opening, I’m an unreliable witness.
That’s because Tess Morris, the woman who wrote the movie, says “I read Billy Mernit’s book, my writing life changed, and I wrote Man Up.” Yeah, no, really: She says it right in this interview, among other nice things. And that’s not the worst of why I can’t “review” her movie, much as I’d like to. It’s because since she took Writing the Romantic Comedy to heart and wrote the movie and got it made, Tess Morris has become a friend of mine. Which is good for me – Tess is one fine and funny human being – but terrible for my credibility in this regard. If I go on about her most excellent work, you’ll just think I’m being completely subjective and prejudiced.
Rats.
So maybe I’d be best off letting Tess speak for herself. Here’s what Ms. Morris says about the origin of her story:
The inspiration for Man Up came not long after I’d had my heart broken. A man came up to me at Waterloo Station thinking I was the blind date he was meant to be meeting, and I said I wasn’t… but as he walked away, I thought: “What if I had said I was? And isn’t that a great premise for a movie?” I wanted to write something about two people who had no idea about each other before they met. Internet dating means that you learn about, and reject, people before you meet them. How many people are we dismissing who might have some potential? You see a photo and say “No.” The Tinder swipe is the death knell of romance.
That’s from a piece she wrote in the Guardian. When Tess and I were discussing what makes good rom-coms good, she said:
If you're writing one, make sure you’ve got something to say about life, or love. Why do you want to write a rom-com? Figure that out. What’s going to make it interesting, funny, and new? Find the truth of what you want to write about.
And apropos, here’s what Tess has to say about the title of the film and what it all means:
I had a load of other alternative titles… I think the worst one was ‘Boy Doesn’t Meet Girl’ ha, and then one day, when I was struggling with writing the script, I remember thinking what is this film ABOUT, Tess, and then I laughed out loud, because I realized it was about me manning up, in life and love in general, and then I thought, Man Up… THAT’S IT. Because both [leads] Nancy and Jack have to man up, you know? And some of the other characters, in their own little ways, too. It’s a film about taking chances, and getting outside your comfort zone. And also, I wanted to reclaim that phrase a bit, from the traditional male and macho kind of thing, because I just like it as a phrase, and we should all be able to use it.
And that’s from an, um, exclusive (i.e. a recent e-mail). Meanwhile, if you're a screenwriter and you'd like to join Tess and me in geeking out about what the big beats of a romantic comedy are meant to be, here's a nifty BAFTA clip in which Tess explains it all for you.
So is your interest properly piqued? I hope so, because Man Up is not a big studio movie, and would benefit from your support. And also (take my word for it or don’t – here’s an enthusiastic review from the L.A. Times) because it’ll make you laugh, and could even make you tear up a bit. And that’s what all of us want from a romantic comedy, if you ask me. Not that I know anything about such stuff.
Go see for yourself.
Interest piqued! (Actually I had been reading Scott Myers in depth interview of Tess Morris over that last couple of weeks so interest was piqued earlier).
Tess Morris is a mega hottie! She should have been the female star in this movie. Lake Bell has TOO big of a smile. Reminds me of the Chesser Cat from "Alice in Wonderland". Anywho, loves out to Tess Morris. Love the fact that Billy's book help inspire her, I've been saying this for years; Billy's book gives us all a good place to fall back too so we can all "Man up" to a higher version of rom-com.
Posted by: E.C. Henry | November 13, 2015 at 12:38 AM
Nice post! I saw the N.A. premiere of MAN UP at the Austin film festival and wow -- best I've seen in a long, long time. I've anticipated its release since hearing about this movie back in the summer and I giggled and cheered and laughed outrageously throughout.
Also a Mernit fan with quite a dog-eared copy of said book, it was fun to hear Tess Morris talk about it during Q&A and to proclaim her love of rom coms, as she said, "unashamedly". Loved that!!
Got to briefly meet her after the screening and was a delight to tell her how she's "set a new bar". Much inspiration to the screenwriter-on-the-verge in myself. No doubt I'll give a nod or two Billy's way when I finally find my way with one of my scripts. Congrats again, Tess Morris!
Posted by: Joni B. | November 13, 2015 at 05:49 AM
Thanks, EC - Hope you enjoy the film, when it finds its way to your neck of the woods.
Joni B: Thanks for your comment. Glad you saw the film and Tess in Austin - I hear it was a blast. And I look forward to your"nod" when your movie gets made!
Posted by: mernitman | November 14, 2015 at 04:07 PM
Hey Billy, hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
One question, if your were to pick three things that make Man Up special as a rom-com, what would they be? And no, that Tess loves your book (which I own) cannot be one of them:-) Cheers!
Posted by: Ourdia Hodge | November 30, 2015 at 07:26 AM
1. Most rom-coms would take this movie's premise - Nancy's ruse - and run it all the way to the 2nd act break (i.e. the big reveal that she's lied to Jack would be the thing that separates them). Tess has Nancy's exposure occur much earlier, so the movie deepens as it becomes more about specific character-driven issues (they both have to "man up," etc.).
2. When the movie does use a standard obligatory rom-com beat, it tweaks it with a funny, imaginative surprise: witness the "run to the airport" third act scene of Jack running to Nancy's place... accompanied by a huge squad of partying teenagers.
3. Tess's screenwriting voice, distinguished by a classic screwball rom-com wit in her verbal gags: There's consistent tart and smart humor throughout, in such quirky one-offs as the "Dead sister!" toast, even in throwaways like Nancy's muttered "Not a good book" response to Jessica's DaVinci code line on the train. Morris just thinks funny, I'd say; I haven't heard such delightfully skewed and nimble banter since the heyday of Richard Curtis.
Posted by: mernitman | December 01, 2015 at 11:00 PM
Thanks for the recommendation, Billy. I really enjoyed this. It did raise a question in my mind about the 'comic relief' character that often comes up (here it was the high-school crush guy).
Did you find him oddly out of place for a a relatively grounded rom com? There weren't really any broad gags or characters except for him.
The flatmate in Nottinghill comes to mind as another example, but that didn't seem as jarring to me, for some reason. My attention was a little diverted while watching, so maybe it was my surface level engagement that threw it off.
Also, Is this tonally acceptable in dramedies as well as rom coms?
Posted by: Billie Bates | December 02, 2015 at 10:08 AM
Billie, I know what you mean, and I just think that Rory Kinnear's is such an outsized performance that too much is made of the part (i.e. they left too much of him, in the cut). And re: tonal acceptability for dramedy, it's actually a pretty common ploy (i.e. the "quirky"comic relief minor support), but again: just don't overdo it.
Posted by: mernitman | December 03, 2015 at 11:00 PM
Thanks, Billy, those are great points, definitely give food for thought. Cheers!
Posted by: Ourdia Hodge | December 04, 2015 at 07:26 AM
Yes! now that you put it that way, it comes across as a post edit issue. All good points, thanks!
Posted by: Billie Bates | December 04, 2015 at 10:32 AM