The Year of Amy Schumer hit the big screen this week, and unlike so
many failed Saturday Night Live skit expansions and the first 15 years
of Chris Rock’s movie career, this is a natural and fitting
progression. Schumer is no mere viral comedian, not just another woman
on the street asking sex questions—though honestly that would be
enough—she is a legitimate actor. Judd Apatow (“of all people”
optional) directs a script written by his star based on her own life
with her MS-afflicted father (here in the form of Colin Quinn,
insisting to his children as he’s walking out the door that “monogamy
is not realistic”) and much more responsible sister Kim (Brie Larson),
who is married (to Mike Birbiglia; every role here is impeccably cast)
with a son and a baby on the way. Amy (Schumer) is what in other
Apatow movies would be called a “man-child,” a
drinking/drugging/sexing fuck-up suspended in adolescence. Following
the Apatow template is one of Trainwreck’s few mistakes—the others are
allowing professional athletes speaking roles and a 125-minute run
time—but pitting Schumer against Bill Hader in love interest form is
smart and surprisingly sweet. Amy panics when love is suddenly
standing in front of her, but Aaron won’t run. It’s great. As is the
closing hip-hop dance number. It’s not close to groundbreaking as
anything she’s done on her show, but Trainwreck adds another dimension
to an exciting performer.
This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2015.