You Again - Bluray

Director: Andy Fickman

Writer: Moe Jelline

Cast: Kristen Bell (Marni), Jamie Lee Curtis (Gail), Sigourney Weaver (Ramona), Odette Annable (Joanna Yustman), Victor Garber (Mark), Betty White (Grandma Bunny), James Wolk (Jimmy Wolk), Patrick Duffy (Richie).

Synopsis: Being one of those High School girls that the other boys would never look twice at (unless they did something whacked out) Marni is side-lined and bullied by the head cheerleader Joana and her friends. Fast forwarding into the not so distant future, but away from High School, Marni is now in a successful job with great prospects. Finding out that her Brother is to marry Joana – the teenage cheerleading bully – Marni works on getting an apology from the age old history between them that left Marni bitter…but successful.

The story and plot thickens even more, when Marni’s mother, Gail gives her daughter a talk of wisdom and in a sense to leave the past in the past, until Gail finds out that Joana’s mother is none other than Ramona, Gail’s best friend and nemesis from High School. With two of the old cats wishing the same as Marni, the gloves are off and the claws are out – but what could possibly spoil a great wedding?

Review: Everyone remembers High School in their own way, whether this was based on Good Memories, or those of Bad – but would we share the Bad memories with anyone – giving us the very basis on starting out on life’s little journey. From school scowling’s of being the perfect example of the underdog, to the modern world where success is measured in many other ways than in wealth, it is “You Again” that concentrates on one particular “Right of Passage” which we all assume we must find before that Middle-Age milestone of life – Forgiveness.

With a tolerable introduction of Marni – Moo as her High School nickname reveals – gives her speech for the school Time Capsule, we are shown exactly what it is like for her to be one of “The Invisible’s” that people ignore and shun. On the other side of the fence there is Joana, one of “The Popular” girls that everyone wants to be like and be around. But there is one slight problem with Joana when it comes to Marni, and that is Joana’s teasing and bullying of Marni.

“You Again” is one of those films that rarely come along, like that of “Juno”, with the Taboo that some parents and students alike would rather keep out of the public’s knowledge. With a great line up of Comedic Actor’s, it is this film which have the viewer laughing one minute and reeling the next – as well as making the odd personal reference, too.

With very well directed actors and actresses combining a very well written script, “You Again” has become a success for every reason such other classic films as “The American Pie” series and “National Lampoon’s” have – Its tackling of a topic and problematic teen to adulthood journeys in life, have the viewer rolling over laughing as well as stopping to think for a moment or two for a reflection on life.

DVD Archive Rating: 8/10 (9/10 if John Candy –R.I.P- was still around to play the part of Mark, Marni’s Father)

Additional Information:-

Tagline: What doesn’t kill you…is going to marry your brother.

Release Date: 12th November 2010 (UK)

Opening Weekend Ticket Sales: $8,407,513 (USA) / Gross: $25,677,801.

Runtime: USA 105 minutes

Odd: Kristen Bell’s character has the initial M.O.O. (Marni Olivia Olsen) and works for Reginald VelJohnson, whose character in ABC’s Family Matters had the initials C.O.W. (Carl Otis Winslow).

© Marcus De Storm 2011

You Again (Official Trailer)