“A Guy Thing” stars Jason Lee as Paul Morse, an engaged ad executive working for his soon-to-be father-in-law. After waking up with tiki-dancer Becky (Julia Stiles) the morning after his bachelor party, Paul embarks on a destructive cycle of deceit to cover the harmless rendezvous from his fiancé Karen (Selma Blair). Paul later discovers Becky and Karen are cousins, and as if that isn’t enough, has to deal with Becky’s crazed cop of an ex-boyfriend, his own envious brother and a nasty case of crabs from a toilet seat.
“A Guy Thing” is a weak romantic comedy at best. The storyline follows today’s quirky romantic comedy conventions, rehashing those tired situations instead of developing them further. Almost every convention ever used has been thrown in here for a laugh, when in actuality, a cohesive story with fewer but more developed concepts would have been more successful. The film races to the next laugh, never stopping to appreciate or develop the last.
Director Chris Koch, with only 2000’s stormy “Snow Day” under his belt, lacks experience directing comedy, so he overcompensates, diluting the picture.
For example, Paul’s dream sequences are both refreshing and, unsurprisingly conventional in their approach. His last daydream, ridiculous but sadly believable within the context of the film, mocks sappy romantic comedies just as the film ironically conforms to the same practices.
Characterization can’t even save the doomed comedy. Many of the characters are patterned stereotypically (take Paul’s white-trash parents interacting with Karen’s upper-class family and the alleged “hilarity” that ensues), and certain characters have no point in the film, except of course for that extra laugh. The acting isn’t much better.
Lee, known for his roles in Kevin Smith movies and obviously making a break for leading-man roles, does what he can with his substantial part, but even his talent cannot save the awkward film. He delivers comic lines well but offers no continuity between his character and the script.
Despite managing to capture her character’s free spirit, Stiles’ Becky never reveals her motives and remains two-dimensional. (The exact events of that fateful night remain a secret, even seemingly to “Paul” himself.) Ironically, Blair’s slightly eccentric portrayal of Karen gives her the most layered character, in a part which actually requires more of a flat approach. And judging by the chemistry among the characters, “Paul” would rather spend time with his brother than either of his female co-stars.
There are a few redeeming moments. Paul’s embarrassing mission for “crab” medicine strikes a knowing chord with the audience as does an eccentric sequence involving dirty women’s underwear purchased at Spendmart, but scenes between Paul and his in-laws-to-be just make you wish you were watching “Meet the Parents” for the fifth time. We’ve seen it all before and it’s been done better. Unless you’re reviewing “A Guy Thing” for your college newspaper, there’s really no reason to see it.
— Review by Jennifer Clay
January 23, 2003
