My Super Ex-Girlfriend: Grade B

B

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris, Eddie Izzard, Rainn Wilson, Wanda Sykes. Director=Ivan Reitman.

Owen Wilson has done dozens of these silly romantic comedies. This is the first time I have seen Luke hold his own without making me think he was imitating his brother. He falls in love with Uma Thurman’s character, who turns out to be a Supergirl. There are numerous quotes from the Superman movies, which is unimaginative given so many other possibilities, but this movie is not designed for subtlety. Uma does a terrific job, alluding to her Kill Bill role as a violent action hero with a comedic twist. She becomes jealous and possessive so Luke breaks up with her then she becomes vengeful, and nobody wants a vengeant, superpowered ex-girlfriend. Eddie Izzard plays the evil nemesis with terrific irony. He seems to have studied John Malkovich, to good effect. Anna Faris reprises her Scary Movie role in some scenes, but in others, gives a solid dramatic performance. Rainn Wilson cannot escape his Dwight Schrute role from The Office. Wanda is crippled by watered down dialog and overly cautious directing; too bad. The pacing and the editing are perfect. Every one of the DVD deleted scenes is good, and every one had to be deleted. It's nice to see a tight movie. The happy ending suggests so many other roads not taken. But for a mindless laugh, this movie, though really loud, is surprisingly good.