Movie 43 (2013) - Review

Anthology horror movies usually don’t turn out too great, and sadly the same can be said about the comedic equivalent: the sketch movie.  There’s nothing inherently wrong with short films, but generally the connecting story that ties them all together seems contrived beyond belief.  That is one of the many problems with Movie 43.  Another minor problem with the film is that about 50% of it is embarrassingly awful.

The wraparound story is terrible.  As much as I like Greg Kinnear... it’s just unbearable with little to no humor – just padding to extend the movie to a ninety minute running time.  Many skits follow suit in the following style: a likable actor or two stumble through a hideously-written script, smashing you over the head with a sledgehammer-shaped “punchline” for eight minutes.  Then it’s off to the next sketch!

A couple of the shorts work well enough.  The “Homeschooled” sketch takes creepy incest – as if there’s any other kind – and runs with it to the point that it kind of becomes pathetically funny.  Likewise, “Middleschool Date” works pretty much solely because of Chloe Grace Moretz, because menstruation is certainly a topic that has been thoroughly butchered in a comedic context.

Movie 43 or: Funny Actors Doing Stupid Skits

Lastly, Beezel is probably the only legitimately good sketch of the bunch.  The darkly comic skit, helmed by the great James Gunn, tells of a couple with an animated cat that keeps coming between their relationship.  It’s ridiculous and stupid, but retains enough of Gunn’s signature style and charm that it works about 99% of the time, not to mention the great comedic performances of Josh Duhamel and Elizabeth Banks.

Unfortunately the bad bits vastly outshine the good ones.  Some clunkers include the normally lovable Chris Pratt and Anna Faris attempting scat-play, Gerard Butler as a leprechaun being tortured by Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott, and, worst of all, Halle Berry trying her hand at comedy.

Overall, the movie has a few hits, but many, many more misses.  Just go find the Beezel short and be done with it.