MR. RIGHT
Director : Paco CabezasCast : Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, RZA, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, Katie Nehra
Genre : Action/Comedy
Run Time : 95 mins
Opens : 21 April 2016
Rating : M18 (Coarse Language And Violence)
From Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Gigli
to Killers and Please Kill Mr. Know-It-All, ‘hitman screwball comedies’ could be a
subgenre unto its own, albeit one that hasn’t exactly yielded works of
outstanding quality. The latest entry in this quirky bunch is Mr. Right, starring Sam Rockwell as the
title character. Mr. Right is a loopy
but scarily efficient contract killer, who, abiding by a twisted morality, has
decided to turn the tables on those who hire him by killing them instead of the
intended targets. He runs into Martha (Kendrick), a young woman still hurting
after a bad breakup with her cheating boyfriend. The duo develop a fondness for
each other and Mr. Right is ready to give up his unsavoury career to be with
her. Unfortunately, his mentor-turned-nemesis Hopper (Roth) is on his tail, and
Mr. Right also finds himself embroiled in a gang power struggle between
brothers Richie (Mount) and Von (Ransone). Martha must ask herself this: “is it
a deal-breaker if people are constantly shooting at my boyfriend, and that he’s
shooting back?”
Mr. Right is
directed by Paco Cabezas, from a screenplay by Max Landis. Landis has quickly
become one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood, with his scripts for Chronicle, American Ultra and Victor
Frankenstein getting produced in quick succession with several more
high-profile projects to follow. More jaded industry watchers (i.e. most of
them) will attribute Landis’ success to the fact that his father is director
John Landis. The younger Landis has displayed a markedly unlikeable attitude in
interviews and social media interactions, so it’s no surprise that Mr. Right is glib and smug the whole way
through. The action-romantic-comedy is aiming to be edgy and subversive, but is
bogged down by clichés from both the action and the rom-com genres from the
get-go: we counted at least three pop songs in the opening 10 minutes. There’s
a nervous energy and some of the jokes do land, but the complete lack of
sincerity makes it hard to connect to.
Both Rockwell and Kendrick are immensely watchable actors
and on the surface, it would seem Mr.
Right plays to both their respective strengths and yet, it isn’t the best
use of their talents. The set-up of a relatively normal gal falling for an
enigmatic, dangerous assassin doesn’t take hold because both Martha and Mr.
Right come off as over-the-top caricatures. Kendrick turns the adorkable
hyperactive cutie thing up to 11, which is overwhelming rather than endearing. Rockwell
has the unique ability to be simultaneously slimy and charming, but at the end
of the day, we’re supposed to root for the couple to be together, instead of
merely cocking our heads at their off-kilter chemistry. The aim is apparently
for a less abusive Joker-and-Harley-Quinn-esque relationship to blossom, and
while it’s obvious that the filmmakers want to steer clear of a standard
rom-com progression, Martha and Mr. Right’s romance still unfolds in a
predictable general pattern.
As the main antagonist, Roth is pretty entertaining,
putting on a goofy Alabama accent when his character is in disguise as an FBI
agent. There’s meant to be an extensive personal history between Hopper and Mr.
Right and to the film’s credit, there isn’t a lengthy exposition scene where
said history is spelled out to the audience. However, their contentious
relationship over the years doesn’t get satisfactorily fleshed out; their big
confrontation nowhere near as explosive as it should be. The mobsters, with
their Jersey drawls, slicked-back hair and patent leather jackets, are
generally too goofy to be truly threatening. The big surprise here is RZA as beleaguered
hitman Steve, who finds himself stuck with a rickety old shotgun while the
other guys get automatic weapons. RZA is one of those rappers who also fancies
himself an actor, the results thus far ranging from dull to laughable. He
actually has considerable charisma here.
Mr. Right has
its moments when the cynical humour and slick action click into place, but for
the most part, it is stuck feeling firmly like the work of people who are way
too pleased with themselves for their own good. Because of its undercurrent of
flippancy, which often mutates into an overcurrent, there’s not very much to
grab onto. The in-your-face silliness might be viewed as some to an antidote
for the po-faced action thrillers that are the norm now, but Mr. Right doesn’t earn our suspension of
disbelief. Those in search of a satisfying, sure-footed action-comedy won’t
find their match in Mr. Right.
Summary: Despite
its quirky, charming leads, Mr. Right’s
indulgent, misplaced sense of nihilistic irony quickly becomes unbearable.
RATING: 2
out of 5 Stars
Jedd Jong
