The D Train

The D Train was an independent movie that I felt was really for me when I looked into it and after watching the movie I can say that I enjoyed it but the movie was far from flawless. Jack Black shows off a little bit more range in this movie which was what I was hoping. Black has been kind of quiet over the past few years and it seemed like he sort of dropped off the map for no real reason. This film is really a comedy movie but it doesn't have the stupid gross out humour that Black's movies are mostly known for. Jack Black does a really good job playing the awkward middle aged man character that really kind of reminds me of Paul Rudd's character from I Love You, Man. James Marsden did a really good job of playing the cool guy. I really love the scenes with Marsden and Black together but it seems like the relationship between their characters never really gains much depth and neither do their characters. The relationship between the character really peaks at the first hour and seems to go down hill from there and when the film comes to an end you really don't know where they stand. I felt that the D Train tried to break some new ground but it just didn't quite work. There is one scene in this movie that you think is just there to get a few laughs and it is very funny but that one scene becomes such a big part of the movie that by the ending the movie seems really underwhelming. I think I would've really enjoyed watching Black and Marsden become friends because they really did work together well. I think that there will still be lots of people who will get a kick out of The D Train. This movie does not spit out the jokes constantly but there are some really funny and clever jokes scattered through this movie. This movie had so much potential and it just doesn't quite reach it.

Jack Black tries to give his usual obnoxious type some sweetness, but fails miserably. He plays a loser who decides to boost attendance at his 20th high school reunion by getting the school's coolest guy (James Marsden) to come back from LA, where he's a "successful" actor. What had potential for humor gets darker and darker until it's just uncomfortable and mean. Black never creates a likable person, which makes his plight even more desperate. Marsden doesn't mine any of the satirical potential in his character's arrogance. No humor. No sympathy. Just a "Train" wreck.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]