FilmSnobReviews

Title: An Evening with Beverly Luff Lin
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Jim Hosking
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Jemaine Clement, Emile Hirsch
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

What It Is: Lulu Danger (Plaza) is in a loveless marriage to her husband Shane (Hirsch). Shane is on the cusp of some sort of breakdown. He ends up stealing money from Lulu’s family member Adjay (Sam Dissanayake). Adjay hires Colin (Clement) to get his money back for $200. Upon getting there to take back the funds Lulu escapes Shane with Colin and they hole up in a hotel. One hosting a magical night with a Beverly Luff Lin (Craig Robinson). The mysterious Mr. Luff Lin is a man from Lulu’s past, but both the nature and extent of their relationship might be the biggest mystery.

What We Think: How does one truly explain something such as this? It has that off the wall sensibility of something like Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! or any adult swim-esque comedy. Often the acting falls to the wayside and makes room for the satirical “hilarity” of the silly premise. It’s an easy movie to dislike and even harder to love. I don’t know if I loved it, hated it or reside somewhere in the gray. It’s just…weird and not really to my taste. I love Aubrey Plaza and this seems tailor-made for her. In fact, casting isn’t an issue and it’s all done pretty brilliantly. That said. It isn’t for me. It just isn’t.

Our Grade: D+, I don’t “get it”. It’s not really my kind of comedy and the laughs just weren’t there. Plaza is bizarre, and so is this film. Robinson seems to be doing this weird grumbling sound and WHY he makes that noise isn’t explained. Unless you’re into the absolutely absurd this might prove a little too much.