Just tries way too hard

Rating: 5/10 (24 June 2006)

I wanted to like this film. I really did. Despite loathing soccer, not caring much for 'mixup' comedies and just generally not being terribly nuts about seeing this, I truly tried. The plot is a mess. There are under(and un-)developed subplots all over the place. The mix-ups are too plentiful and overwhelm you to the point of not caring. Furthermore, they're pitifully close to the level of the later years of the show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch... meaning, basically juvenile. Anyone with even a hint of common sense could have seen right through everything that happened, if it were to take place in real life. Every major character is basically a stereotype, and not one of them are even mildly developed. The acting is overplayed, the cinematography uninspired and shoddy and the overall directing is just lackluster. The film doesn't entirely stink, but there is a distinct reek of "inexperienced director". Fickman may turn out to be a good (enough) director later on, but he needs practice. Lots of it. The humor is basically that of a sitcom... situational comedy. Take a bunch of characters, put them in an awkward situation and let things go from there. That's all fine and good... the thing is, the jokes never get time to delve in. Any comedian with at least a basic understanding of humor will tell you that you need to pause briefly after a good joke... let people laugh, let the punch-line sink in, let them come over the funny truth you just handed to them before you give them another. Fickman is blissfully unaware of this. The punchlines keep coming, at far too great a speed, and it doesn't take you long to simply tire of this. It tries too hard to make you laugh and comes off thin and weak. Sad, because the film does have some merit. Based on a Shakespeare play, the mix-ups are amusing and the basic idea interesting. The battle of the sexes is seemingly an eternal one... and this method of fighting it is original(well, was, when Master William wrote it). Bynes shows definite potential, and had the script and directing been better, I'm certain she could have carried this well. As it is, the writing is too superficial, the characters too one-note and limited, and the overall movie just... hard to sit through. I laughed some times, and some of it almost succeeding in being moving... but then Fickman tears us away from it with an attempt at humor, making him and his directing seem as shallow and daft as the high school types he seems to make fun of. A fair try, but unsuccessful. I'm not sure I regret watching this... but I'm rather certain I won't be watching it again. 5/10