I went into watching What’s Your Number? starring Anna Faris (House Bunny) and Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger) with the preconceived notion that the comedy would be cheap and the story would be predictable. Well, I was only half right and I’m wondering how come the rest of the world isn’t giving Faris the same credit as that whole troop of actresses who starred in Bridesmaids. I don’t think either film should have any Oscar credit behind it, but Faris’ sharp knack for delivering a line and fearlessness in going there makes up for all the predictability in the movie.
Of course the second you see her with the half-naked Evans, you know what’s going to happen, but it is a very funny ride getting there. Evans is really no more than a trophy for the stereotype of the guy she shouldn’t be going after, and doesn’t. The movie follows Ally, an unemployed single girl who figures out that she’s slept with enough guys to have already met her Mr. Right. With the help of Colin (Evans), she goes through her list of 20 diverse notches on her bedpost to reconnect and hopefully find the guy she’s supposed to spend the rest of her life with.
I almost forgot halfway during the movie that Faris came from the Scary Movie family, but that just enforces how she’ll go to any length when it comes to getting the last laugh, even if that means prancing around on a basketball court in transparent underwear.
Faris is the best part of the film, even though the supporting cast includes a very sweet Ari Graynor as Ally‘s sister, underwhelming Blythe Danner as Ally’s overbearing well-to-do mother, and Joel McHale as Ally’s most recent conquest. The movie is also full of familiar faces in the cameos of Ally’s very eclectic conquests, including Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek), Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation), Dave Annabel (Brothers & Sisters), and Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker).
The movie should have been a bigger success, but I do still think that Faris can do more with her comedy chops. If you’re interested in getting the DVD, there’s an extended version, which shows a lot of extra funny scenes, including how Ally’s sordid past has made her realize why each of her 20 previous suitors were no good for her.
To check out the trailer for the movie if you need a reminder, click on over to my article from when the film was first coming out!
This is one of the better female-headed sex comedies to watch with girl friends or the boyfriend. Faris gets a good solid B+.
My rating: 6.5/10
Recent Comments