Elizabeth Banks plays a local reporter who has a chance to move up to the big time but that's largely dependent on her making it to an interview. The problem is while she was having a one-night stand with bartender James Marsden, her car was towed, and now she's stranded in downtown LA with no car, no money, and no phone.
I really looked forward to this. I like Elizabeth Banks and it looked promising. The early parts aren't that funny but once the plot kicks in and she has to find her way out of "the hood," it picks up. It reminded me somewhat of After Hours or maybe even Adventures of Babysitting. Banks is very good, as well as being particularly hot in this. The supporting cast is really what makes it work. Kevin Nealon is fun as a weirdo helicopter reporter. Bill Burr and Ethan Suplee are great as a couple of clueless cops. But the highlight for me was the trio of Pookie (Alphonso McAuley), Hulk (Da'Vone McDonald), and Scrilla (Bob from Walking Dead). I don't want to spoil too much about their scenes but all three are terrific, especially McAuley who talks like a Fat Albert character come to life.
This is a funny comedy with a generally pleasant tone that I liked. Yeah it's somewhat predictable and formulaic but no one's trying to reinvent the wheel here. It's a good way to spend an hour and a half. One little thing I wanted to mention because when it happened in the movie, I had to roll my eyes a bit. James Marsden's bartender character is revealed to not just be a bartender but also a writer. Why is it that movies always do that? Someone can't be JUST a bartender or a waitress or a mechanic -- they always have to be something more "respectable" on the side or they are aspiring to be something like that. Just once I would like one of these movies to feature a working-class character who is happy with their life and does not want to go to law school or own the company or become a big movie star. Because ultimately what they are saying is that Marsden is not good enough for Banks if he is just a bartender, which is shallow and sad.
