by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Do you miss ‘90s comedies? There was something… different about them. They would have the most outlandish premises that were held together by partying, popular music, and raunchiness. There are probably elements that feel awkward and dated in hindsight, but they had such a specific aesthetic. When you try to accomplish the same feeling today, those stories just feel out of place. Sure, this style of comedy led right into the early 2000s, but the comedy landscape has changed quite a bit.
But what does that mean for Lionsgate’s new throwback comedy, The Re-Education of Molly Singer? This Andy Palmer-directed comedy feels quite out of place in 2023. First off, the story is SO unbelievable. Our protagonist, Molly Singer (Britt Robinson), is stuck in her college days and certainly parties like it is still the ‘90s. But when she gets fired, her boss (Jaime Pressly) hires her to go back to college to help her son (Ty Simpkins) become popular and get out of his shell. Wait… what? Not only that, but she brings her best friend (Nico Santos) back to college with her, and somehow this plan generally works. If your measure for disbelief is in a lower setting, this is going to be a rough ride.
Is Palmer able to make this tired concept feel fresh and interesting? Unfortunately, Molly Singer dives into incredibly awkward and unfunny gags. When you have a scene where a mother takes her college-aged son to a strip club and peer pressures him into spanking strippers, you know what kind of strange film you are in for. There is an odd balance of tones as well. Most of the film is absurd and silly, which is fine for the story it is trying to tell, but there are also moments that feel out of place, as Simpkins character deals with serious grief issues that have stunted his social growth. That should be a compelling and emotional journey, but instead, it feels drowned in the goofy nature of the rest of the film.
What about the script from the writing combo of Todd M. Friedman and Kevin Haskin? First off, this film feels WAY too long. It is a goofy comedy that is stretched out to a fill two-hour runtime. There is certainly space to tighten things up. Comedy is subjective, but borrowing most of your plot from stronger and funnier films is a fair critique of this film. Shades of Back to School and No Hard Feelings (which is so fresh that it is hard to ignore) fill out this plot. The gags feel tired and overdone, and most of the characters are unlikable or just plain boring. This is a toxic combination, especially for a film that overstays its welcome.
But are there positive elements in the film? The cast. Robertson is charming enough — she does her best with an unlikable protagonist. Simpkins is solid, like in his recent turn in Insidious: The Red Door. Pressly is a particular performer that might not have a track record of depth or range in her work, but she does does solid work with her character. Honestly, Santos gets that good role of being the funny sidekick type character in a studio comedy, and he rises to the occasion.
Is The Re-Education of Molly Singer a nice throwback to ‘90s comedies? Not quite. If it was shorter, it would be more manageable, but with 120 minutes to sit through, there is just not enough heart, laughs, or themes to make it a must-see experience. The cast stands out on some level amongst this tired and already dated comedy.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
The Re-Education of Molly Singer is currently playing in theaters
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