Rating: 4 Pulses
Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler, Lonny Ross
Directed by Mark Helfrich
Rated R
Over the past two years or so, America seems to have fallen in love with Dane Cook.
Everybody loves the guy. Except for me. I know, I know. He’s funny. I just can’t stand him. That being said, Good Luck Chuck has really made me reconsider my stance on him.
The movie was hilarious from the very beginning until the bonus clip during the credits. I was extremely surprised by the elevation in humor from recent comedies like 40 Year Old Virgin and Wedding Crashers.
The story is about Charlie (Cook), a dentist whose ex-girlfriends all seem to end up getting hitched soon after dumping him. Charlie doesn’t think much of it until the word gets out and he starts getting dozens of calls from anonymous women looking to sleep with him so they can find their true love.
Then along comes Cam (Alba). Sweet and extremely accident prone, Cam makes Charlie fall in love for the first time. After they sleep together, he’s afraid he might once again fall curse to the “charm” and lose her.
First-time director Mark Helfrich did an excellent job at the helm. Like I said before, it really is funny from beginning to end.
The balance of dirty jokes and potty humor with laugh-out-loud physical comedy is what sets this movie apart from its contemporaries. Even the awkward moments in the movie invoke a muffled chuckle.
The supporting cast is top notch, with Cook and Alba each having a sidekick to deliver one-liners. Dan Fogler was hilariously dirty as the perverted plastic surgeon who chose his career path simply to stare at naked women all day long. Lonny Ross was also a great character, playing Alba’s pot-smoking, younger brother with a surprising knowledge of theology.
The plot, while original, feels like an ’80s movie and some of the scenes involving women looking to use Charlie as a stepping stone will make you cringe. But other than that, this really is a quality movie that’s worth seeing.
Fair warning: avoid Good Luck Chuck if you’re on a first date or looking for a good flick to go see with the parents. The nudity begins about three minutes in and climaxes with a montage of Cook having sex with dozens of women. So you have been warned. Or alerted. You decide.
