Trailing Off: "Why Him?" (2016)

Scene from Why Him?

Welcome to the weekly column Trailing Off in which I take a look at a trailer from the past week and analyze its potential. This will be done using an obnoxious amount of analyzing and personal thoughts on the cast and crew as well as expectations. Coming every Sunday (it's called Trailing Off for a reason), I will attempt to highlight films ranging from new blockbusters to lesser known indies and give them their due. Partially to spread awareness, I do believe that there is an art to the sell and will do my best to highlight why these trailers matter or don't with approval (trove) or disapproval (trash). So please stop by, recommend some trailers, and I will see you next time.

Trailer in Discussion

Directed By: John Hamburg

Written By: John Hamburg, Ian Helfer

Starring: Zoey Deutch, James Franco, Bryan Cranston

- Preamble -

With most of the trailers currently out for the summer's biggest releases, it's become tougher to narrow down what to do for Trailing Off. In the case of this week, it is time once again to dive into obscure comedies that may not make that big of a splash, but have a cast worthy of raising an eyebrow. Why Him? has the perfect set-up for this type of comedy. With a decent cast of actors and a halfway decent plot, it does manage to seem like something that would generate small interest if it popped up onto video on demand services, or formed a cult like following on Netflix in about a year from now.

At the moment, the only reason that I chose Why Him? over other titles is because of the cast, most specifically in James Franco and Bryan Cranston. For starters, I am one of those that think that Franco is one of the most interesting performers currently working. He is somewhat of an ambitious person who is not afraid to try and fail. His best work is surreal and easy to misunderstand. At his average, he stars in weird or familiar comedies that do not do him justice. From my vague understanding of this film, I am guessing that it will be a familiar comedy and one that sees him relying on his creepy charm. 

Meanwhile, Cranston is an actor of high reliance, but often gets work that is sometimes beneath him. As great as Breaking Bad was, it doesn't seem like he's captured the film world with the same gravitas. Sure, he's been good and sometimes great, but it's an infrequent output that makes it hard to have the same assurance over seeing one of his films at the drop of a hat. Speaking as he remains pretty active nowadays, it's easy to think that he'll be in one good movie at the very least per year. It's just a matter of determining what that one will be.

- Dissection -

Let's get the obvious thing out of the way first: I am probably going to see this if it ever pops up on Netflix. The promise of a comedy with two actors that I really like is enough to make it worth the price of admission on that level. From what I gather, the premise has enough potential to provide at least a few laughs in a way that made Meet the Parents such an interesting film several years back. This doesn't have the subtlety of said film, but Why Him? could possibly update it for a modern audience in new and exciting ways. -

Or it can be just as mediocre as the trailer made it out to be. If I can be honest, the film does have some appeal in terms of candid boyfriend who is irresponsible. However, it is surrounded by a familiarity that makes it hard to really recommend. The father is nebbish and doesn't want to give into her daughter's bad boyfriend. There's so much that's predictable that it's hard to really find much promise just on the joke level. Things go where they usually go, and that's the extent by which everything happens. End of story. 

It's hard to dissect a comedy trailer on whether or not it is funny. Red Band Trailers especially feel like they exist solely sometimes just to fit in a few extra curses. As it is, this one isn't the worst offender, and it ends up being risque in a way that doesn't entirely make it seem like it's a film about awful people all around like, say, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. It's not the best put together trailer, but it has enough going for it that I am not entirely repulsed by the sight of it. If nothing else, I'm probably going to enjoy it as a Hard R comedy.

- One Sentence Sell -

James Franco and Bryan Cranston remake Meet the Parents with more debauchery and cursing.

 - Trove or Trash -

TRASH

This isn't to say that I won't see it, but the trailer's attempt to get me to see it in theaters isn't quite successful. Maybe once I see a few more trailers and the jokes get better, maybe things will change. If nothing else, this is in the potential category.