I am fed up with this movie getting bad reviews.
As far as performances go: Zach Cregger was phenomenal. His acting ability exceeds that of the average big name actor in this industry. And if you can prove yourself to be a good actor in a road trip sex comedy, then that's a pretty big accomplishment if you ask me. When he needs to be funny he's hilarious. When he needs to be serious, he's completely nonchalant. Every detail of his tone and expressions are immediately recognized by the audience, and he does a good job of not being cocky about it. Not to mention this is only his second film.
Trevor Moore did a fantastic comedic job. Most critics call him a "Jim Carrey wannabe," which is a joke. For one thing, Jim Carrey never wrote and directed anything I've ever seen. Also, Carrey has the annoying tendency to over act. For some reason he has this idea that the more over the top and exaggerated you act, the funnier your character will be. I disagree. That's just underestimating the intelligence of your audience. It is clear that Trevor Moore has a natural awareness of when to tone it down, and when to raise things up. And of course, he has this signature bug-eyed expression and fluctuation of the voice that will make any line ten times funnier.
When you put the two men together, you get Eugene and Tucker; characters with a surprisingly heart-warming chemistry. Unlike most movies, you see throughout this story that these two friends really, truly care about each other. Sure, they have opposite points of view, and it can be a real chore to have to deal with one another, but they remain best friends through it all. The writers did an excellent job displaying their devotion. Which answers the question that I often ask when I watch movies like "Dumb and Dumber" and "Wedding Crashers," which is, "If they can't stand each other, why are they even friends?"
The movie is oozing originality, which most critics have decided to overlook when they heard the words "two boys" and "road trip." The typical sex comedy usually makes the protagonist the straight man, and his nutty friend tends to have all the bad luck. However this movie has the role of the protagonist shared between both the straight man and the nutty friend. Both characters learn a lesson, both characters develop throughout the movie, and both characters get "the girl." They also did a good job of consistently being a comedy, and not getting lost in the romance, which movies (mainly featuring the "Frat Pack") tend to do. Not to mention, how many times do you see a conservative, pro-abstinent lead in a movie like this? Isn't it usually just two horny boys trying to get laid? The character Eugene, or the "straight man," also rebelled against the stereotypes by not being afraid to look stupid. In most movies, characters like him are lovable, nearly flawless, and hated by almost no one. Here, Eugene was scaring children, pooping on floors, flashing a gas station, and pissing off a famous rapper. FINALLY a protagonist that knows how to get EMBARRASSED.
The movie also makes the audience take another look at Playboy. Instead of viewing it as a trashy magazine that exploits women, it is portrayed as a celebration of how beautiful women can be.
I gave the movie an 8, simply because it wasn't their idea to make the movie about a road trip to the Playboy mansion, and I know they are capable of producing something golden.
I've recommended this movie to everyone I know. It has enough "aww" moments to take your girlfriend or boyfriend to, and enough buddy-buddy moments to take your best friend to as well.
I hope after reading this, movie-goers will give the film a chance, and ignore all the thoughtless, inaccurate reviews that completely bash it.