Film File - You Again

Are school days the happiest of our lives, or is it just those rose-tinted glasses that make us wish they were? Such is the central theme of this clever comedy where the emotional scars of those teenage years can leave an indelible impression, no matter how successful you become in later life. Just as she is about to return home for her brother’s wedding, Marni (Kristen Bell) learns from her mother, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis), that her Will (James Wolk) is marrying Joanna (Odette Yustman), her high school arch nemesis. Could her brother marry the one girl from high school she never wants to see again? Upon Marni’s arrival home, the picture gets progressively worse as she watches her father, Mark (Victor Garber), little brother, Ben (Billy Unger), and even Grandma Bunny (Betty White) welcome Joanna into their family with open arms. And why wouldn’t they - nobody knows the torment she heaped on Marni back in her school days - a reality Joanna has no intention of revealing. Things get even more complicated when Joanna’s aunt, Ramona (Sigourney Weaver), a highly successful, career-driven woman, flies in from Europe for the wedding festivities. Evidently, Ramona and Gail also attended the same high school some 30 years ago, and though they claim camaraderie, they, too, have a history that stems from their teenage years. Added to the mix in this complicated weekend are Georgia King (Kristin Chenoweth), the 'wedding-extraordinator’, who specialises in top-of-the-line event planning; Charlie (Sean Wing), Will’s high school friend and best man, and Tim (Kyle Bornheimer), Joanna’s former fiancé. Also thrown in are Taylor (Christine Lakin) and Kendall (Meagan Holder), the cheerleaders from those high school years who are Joanna’s best friends and poised to be bridesmaids for the big event. Determined to avenge the wrongs of school, Marni embarks on a mission to prove to her family that Joanna is not who she appears to be. Meanwhile, Gail is trying not to be intimidated by Ramona, who exudes confidence, beauty and wealth in everything she does, says or wears. As everyone comes together for Joanna’s bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner, Marni and her mother revert back to their teenage identities - with intriguing results. First-time screenwriter Moe Jelline wrote’ You Again’ due to a fascination that, even though secondary school is a blurred blip in the average life, the emotional ups and downs can stay with some unfortunates for the rest of their lives. “Anyone who’s ever thought twice about going to their high school reunion knows exactly what I’m talking about,” she says. With touches of 'Mean Girls’ and 'The Big Chill’, 'You Again’ is an undemanding froth of a film perfect for a bit of midweek distraction. Bell, as the ugly duckling-turned successful businesswoman, is well cast, as is her tormentor Yustman. Jamie Lee Curtis - who is wearing very well, thank you very much - is well matched with Victor Garber - and complimented by Betty’s White’s star turn as the savvy Gran. Biggest laughs are stolen by Kyle Bernheimer, a lovesick puppy and ex-fiancé utterly unsuitable for the devious Joanna. This one has it all - slapstick, music and a few surprising cameo appearances. Plenty to help dispel the seasonal affective disorder of November.