Review: Trainwreck

Trainwreck combines two brilliant comedic forces into a film that reaffirms the rom-com genre. Amy Schumer, star and writer, teams up with Judd Apatow in his most successful film since Knocked Up. The film combines a raunchy sense of humor with a strong lead female character, one we don't see often in movies, to create a refreshing take on a tired formula.

A writer with a nasty, celebrity-bashing magazine, Amy (Amy Schumer) is stuck in a horrible cycle of one-night stands. Most nights involve weed, drinks and waking up in a strange place. Amy’s life gets more complicated when her father, Gordon (Colin Quinn), is placed in a nursing home due to his Multiple Sclerosis. Assigned to construct a feature interview with doctor Aaron (Bill Hader), who specializes in sports medicine, Amy is charmed by this nice guy. She tries to pull her usual stunts with him but things quickly morph into a relationship. Amy must then learn to trust the relationship and fight her instincts to destroy commitment, something her father drilled into her as a child.

Apatow has had problems in the past keeping his films moving. He often over-stuffs them with side characters and plots that weigh the whole film down. Trainwreck is brisk in comparison as if he listened to those criticisms. The film keeps the central relationship the focus. The two leads are so charming and are the film's greatest strength.

Combining Amy Schumer's unique female branded comedy with Apatow's sense of improvised humor makes Trainwreck one of the year's best comedies. The romance in it is genuinely charming, like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan charming. This deserves to rank among the better romantic comedies in some years and has restored the genre with the boozy brilliance of Amy Schumer. 

4.5/5