Movie Notes: Ira And Abby
= 3 stars
Starring Chris Messina, Jennifer Westfeldt, Fred Willard
Directed by Robert Cary
Synopsis
Neurotic Ira meets friendly Abby and are hastily married. As their two families get to know each other, Ira’s insecurities threaten to undermine everything.
The Good
- Above average cast, from the principals Messina and Westfeldt, to a bevy of familiar comedic faces — Fred Willard, Jason Alexander, and Robert Klein. A very amusing surprise is Judith Light (the mom from Who’s The Boss).
- The film starts off very oddly with Ira’s first meeting of Abby, an uncomfortably friendly gym membership salesperson, and soon builds a very funny and fragile house of comedic cards.
The Bad
- It’s a film cliche that every New Yorker has a therapist and this flick is full of them. But truth be told, it’s a rather lazy way to reveal a character’s emotional state — I’d rather be shown through a situation and acting than have a character tell their shrink “I’m so unhappy!”
- The above description of insecure Manhattanites talking to their shrinks should ring a large bell. This film’s best moments feel like rip offs of Woody Allen’s mid-period work.
- The appropriate, but totally average ending. The pay off — starting with the “group therapy” session wasn’t as funny as it could have been, especially with all the wrapped-up secretive tension. The subplot with Fred Willard and Judith Light could have exploded over everyone — but the film plays it safe.
Conclusion
All in all, a decent rental but you should know what you’re getting into with the description of a Woody Allen-esque romantic comedy. If whiny, neurotic Jews don’t make you laugh — skip it.
IMDB: Ira And Abby
Wikipedia: Ira And Abby
Rotten Tomatoes: Ira And Abby 66%