Monday, June 09, 2014

Penny Thoughts ‘14—Delivery Man (2013) ***½


PG-13, 105 min.
Director: Ken Scott
Writers: Ken Scott (also screenplay “Starbuck”), Martin Petit (screenplay “Starbuck”)
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Andrzej Blumenfeld, Simon Delaney, Bobby Moynihan, Dave Patten, Adam Chanler-Berat, Britt Robertson, Jack Reynor, Amos VanderPoel, Matthew Daddario

“Delivery Man” is a pleasant film that proves that sometimes the execs at Hollywood can make good decisions. The film is a remake of the Canadian movie “Starbuck”, which caused a bit of a stir with its good-hearted charm in a story about a man who through sperm bank deposits fathers over 500 children. Only a man without much sense of responsibility could possibly even donate enough sperm to father over 500 children; however, when he’s sued to reveal his identity to a large group of these children, he learns the responsibility of fatherhood.


What the execs got right was not hiring the next big thing Hollywood director or a couple of hip new writers to make their mark reworking the material for an American audience. Instead they hired the original writer/director, Ken Scott, to merely tweak his own movie for the American mindset. The spirit of this new version of his story remains exactly the same and its charm is left in tact.

The casting of Vince Vaughn in the lead is another good choice. Vaughn is the perfect essence of a man-child to begin this story, yet he has the incredible ability to grow as a character in the manner this story requires. Chris Pratt is also surprisingly effective as Vaughn’s foil here. Pratt has blossomed into an impressive comedic performer, and his deadpan delivery as Vaughn’s voice of reason is just what a story this over the top requires in order the bring it down to Earth.

“Delivery Man” isn’t a deep comedy, but it’s altruistic message fits with its rather innocent nature. It’s a classic feel good comedy that impressively works its magic to warm the heart. There are good laughs to go along with a story involving good people. Hollywood just doesn’t make movies like this anymore. I’m glad they had the sense to let someone else do it.

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