"Why Him?" Review

Title: Why Him?

Directed by: John Hamburg

Written by: John Hamburg and Ian Helfer

Year: 2016


Every year around the holidays, a generic Christmas comedy is released. And more often than not, these films are atrocities. The trailers for Why Him? seem to tell a story that we are all too familiar with, which usually spells out trouble for holiday pictures. Does this Christmas film present itself as a decent surprise, or does the wrapping give it away?

For Christmas, Ned Fleming, along with his wife and son, go to visit his daughter Stephanie. However, she has a new boyfriend in Laird Mayhew, who is everything that Ned despises. This creates a self-imposed rivalry between the two characters, as Ned continuously tries to one-up his daughter's boyfriend.

Bryan Cranston has found success in his more dramatic roles, most notably with Breaking Bad. But many forget that he was a prominent comedic actor before he exploded in popularity. Cranston proves that his comical cogs are anything but rusty, as he is a satirical force in this movie. His comedic timing is punctual and he seems right at home with the material. His facial expressions steal the movie however. The variety of ways he can adjust his face to match every situation is both impressive and hilarious. Cranston commands the screen with a dominant comedic presence.

James Franco portrays Stephanie's boyfriend, Laird. Franco is quite a divisive actor, but I personally enjoy his performances. Here, he plays an eccentric, ignorant billionaire with a well-intentioned heart. Franco gives an excellent performance, exaggerating Laird's features to the extreme. He is able to get under your skin and truly pester you with his oblivious manner, which is a credit to Franco's talent. As the film progresses, Laird begins to grow on you in a singular way that I will discuss later.

Zoey Deutch plays Stephanie, and she presents the character in a surprisingly compelling way. Whatever you may think of Laird, you should be able to sympathize with Stephanie to a certain degree because of how Deutch portrays the character. Barb, Ned's wife, is played by Megan Mullally who manages to sneak-in a few spotlight moments here and there. Griffin Gluck is okay as Scotty, the son in the family, but there are several moments where he becomes an intolerable twat.

Keegan-Michael Key appears as Gustav, Laird's man servant and estate manager. Key adorns a ridiculous accent that only enhances the character. He is an absolute riot and one of the film's greatest strengths. Kaley Cuoco is also in this film in a very unexpected role as the voice of the system that controls the house. Cuoco brings a sense of sensuality with her that emanates from the screen despite her minor appearances. She is often a scene-stealer and one of the takeaways from the film.

Why Him? does not showcase an original story by any stretch of the imagination. We have seen these emotional and story beats carried out before in dozens of movies. The father who does not like the boyfriend; the antics that ensue between the father and the boyfriend; the eventual coming to terms; it has all been done before. Therefore, the film is quite predictable on its most basic level. So Why Him? is not carrying any surprises in the story department. At least, that is what you would think.

This film has something lying underneath the surface that should catch any viewer off guard. Usually in these movies, in order for the boyfriend to win the father's approval or affection, he has to perform some big act or change in some way. That is not the case here. Instead, Laird earns it in a very respectful manner. Throughout the film, you begin to notice things about Laird that the picture will not explicitly point out. It is through these subtle details that you begin to see why Stephanie, an attractive, intelligent, and charming young woman, would ever consider dating this lunatic. Laird does not change at all in the film. He is the same character from beginning to end. What does change is how he is viewed, and this is executed in an incredibly clever and touching style.

But, this being a comedy, the big question is whether this film delivers the funnies. The humor is definitely not for everyone, but I found myself thoroughly entertained. Not all of the jokes are funny, and some fail miserably. The opening scene for the movie is God awful, and had me worried that the entire film would be like that. Thankfully, it vastly improves. The highlight of the film is easily the toilet sequence, which had the audience in stitches.

Why Him? is not going to be remembered as one of the standout movies of 2016. But it is better than most would expect. Cranston and Franco have great chemistry; the subtle undertones of a deeper meaning are a genuine surprise; there are a number of hilarious cameos; and the film is pretty damn funny. The story is nothing innovative or new and there are multiple scenes that do not function the way they should. What I can say about this movie is that it is oddly charming and I really enjoyed watching it. Will it become a holiday staple? Probably not, but I could definitely see myself revisiting Why Him? during the Christmas season if I am looking for a good laugh.

Grade: B-