by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What do you get when you mix a gay couple, rural Italy, a comedy of errors, and a mounting body count? I Don’t Understand You, the horror/comedy from the writer/director duo of David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano. Andrew Rannells and Nick Kroll play the gay couple on their honeymoon in Italy who gets a pregnant mother, Candice (Amanda Seyfried), to let them adopt her child. A night of authentic Italian cuisine turns into a twisted nightmare where accidents happen, and their resolve is tested. This film is full of laughs, blood, and unexpected outcomes.
First off, this is quite a funny film. The leads maximize the comedic scenarios that keep getting lined up, with plenty of snarky lines from Rannells and Kroll. But the comedy is not just limited to there. The physical comedy with slapstick deaths make for some crazy elements, with unexpected setups rooted in confusion and mixed communication. The domino effect of accidents flows well together, creating entertaining scenarios for our central couple to be challenged by.
Though, some moments are frustrating, since the comedy is low-hanging fruit, or because simple logic could solve so much of what happens. Plus, all the gay jokes are uninspired and clunky.
But while I Don’t Understand You is an effective comedy, to call it horror is a stretch. The film certainly has some bloody outcomes for many of its characters, but that does not make it horror. Don’t go in expecting actual scares… just lots of death through a comedy of errors. The film is mostly funny, but it does have some good emotional beats (though with some inconsistent emotional resonance from the cast).
As a whole, the film’s biggest challenge is its lack of thematic bite. The film minds its business, writing so much off as accidental, and just letting the consequences go. Our main couple will do anything for their future family… that is all I’ll say for now. There are a plethora of ways this film could have added some depth, but it skirts them at almost every chance. It’s saved by Candice being the emotional core.
While most of the cast fills their roles well, there is one strange outlier: Kroll. While he is hilarious, and has moments that work, there is something unserious about his little quirks that make the other parts of his performance not click. His dynamic with Rannells is not the most convincing. The emotional beats are much more effective from Rannells. Kroll is still a fun presence, but there is just something missing from his work in the film.
Rannells, on the other hand, is authentic and believable. Seyfried turns out to be a wonderful addition, as she manages to convey so much emotion, even when most of her performance is done through FaceTime. Meanwhile, Nunzia Schiano delivers charm that goes off the charts — she brings strong emotion to each scene as she sells her character’s trauma, while Morgan Spector is good as Nunzia’s son.
While I Don’t Understand You is a fun and entertaining flick, there’s no more to it than a wild concept that leans into the mishaps of its protagonists. Craig and Crano are comfortable just having some fun at the expense of a more complex moral exploration. So sit back, relax, and enjoy all the wild twists and turns.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
I Don’t Understand You is currently playing in theaters
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