Back in 1986, when Brat Packers Demi Moore and Rob Lowe were having their
illicit trysts in
About Last Night, it was a totally scandalous thing.
It was a different time and one-night stands were viewed differently than they
are now, although there's no denying that Moore and Lowe sizzled in their
depiction of youthful romantic indecision fueled by raging libidos. But this is
2014 and the African-American led remake, yet another adaptation of David
Mamet's play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago", has a modern take on
relationships that is funnier and more insightful than the original.
It helps that this version has the comedic power of Kevin Hart and Regina
Hall, who play the bickering on again/off again couple, Bernie and Joan. They
don't just steal the show once; they steal it multiple times, overshadowing the
primary duo played by Joy Bryant and Michael Ealy. Hart, Hall, and Ealy have
starred in multiple films together at this point, and their chemistry together
is off the charts, while Bryant sometimes seems like a fourth wheel. That's not
to say she's bad, because she isn't. She has an easygoing, embracing
personality that works well with Ealy, it's just her character doesn't have the
pop of the other three.
The sexual perversion moves to Los Angeles, where buddies Bernie and Danny
(Ealy) kick back drinks at whatever bar they happen to be at while discussing
their latest conquests. Bernie is a clown, a mighty mite with a big mouth and
bigger ego, perfect for Hart in other words. Danny is calm, cool, and reluctant
to dive back into the dating scene after a harsh break-up with the mysterious
Allison (Paul Patton, in an under-written cameo). But when Bernie starts
hooking up with the sexually vigorous Joan, Danny is also warming up to her
best friend, Debbie (Bryant). As Bernie and Joan take off like a rocket ship,
Debbie and Danny play it slower....well, after the unexpected one-night-stand,
that is.
The film tracks both relationships as they run hot and cold, neither ever seeming
to be on the same path at the same time. Bernie and Joan are the more
interesting duo; an oil and water pair with undeniable chemistry, mostly due to
their mutual self-involvement. Their exchanges, both verbal and sexual, are
sharp and pretty nasty (there's a chicken suit introduced at one point), but
they form the comedic backbone of the film that works better as a comedy than
as a romance thanks in part to director Steve Pink. As the "boring"
couple, Debbie and Danny go through the rigors any serious couple does. The
honeymoon period is fantastic and helps them through their past hang-ups, then
things cool down into comfortable domesticity, until soon she is looking for a
new dog (as a baby surrogate) and he is looking for any opportunity to hang out
with his buddies. Their relationship goes through ups and downs in broad
strokes to fit the episodic nature of Leslye Headland's script, which leans
heavily on humor rather than deep emotional truths. When the girls are
depressed they indulge in Nutella binges; the guys take their frustrations out
on video games.
Hart has been delivering his A+ material since 2012's
Think Like a Man,
and this film shares a lot of thematic similarities he seems comfortable
playing into. He's a little guy with a Napoleon complex who always has
something to say, even when others want him to shut up. Again he finds himself
in the role of motor-mouthed pal, but what's surprising is how good he is with
Hall. The give and take between them is flawless, a joy to watch, and they have
real spark as a romantic pair. It's hard to believe Hall is the same actress
who played second fiddle to Anna Faris in
Scary Movie all those years
ago. She's improved by leaps and bounds and is as sexy as she is hilarious.
It's the best overall performance Hall and Hart have ever given and hopefully
we get to see more of them together soon. How about a Bernie and Joan
spinoff? There probably weren't a lot of people clamoring for an
About
Last Night remake, but this one is fresh enough to hold up well on its own.
About Last Night has a lot of laughs, a little bit of spice, and will
make for a great date movie this Valentine's Day.
