Monday, November 19, 2018

Movie Review: "The Little Hours" (2017)

Director: Jeff Baena
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

A man on the run from his lover's husband is given shelter in a convent full of unconventional nuns who use him to fulfill their carnal desires.


The Little Hours 2017 movie still Aubrey Plaza Alison Brie Kate Micucci
"It's not a turnip! It's shit!" (Image Source)
So, let us get this straight..."The Little Hours" is set in the 14th century, but everybody talks like it's the year 2017? Is that supposed to be the joke? This is an irreverent comedy written and directed by Jeff Baena, who previously wrote and directed "Life After Beth" and "Joshy." This film stars Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, and Kate Micucci, who play Fernanda, Alessandra, and Ginevra, three slightly unstable nuns reluctantly living in a convent run by Sister Maria (Molly Shannon) and Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly). Joining them is Dave Franco as Massetto, a servant who is sleeping with the wife of his master. After his master learns of their affair, Massetto goes on the run, eventually meeting Father Tommasso who offers him a job at the convent as a handyman so long as he pretends to be a deaf-mute. When the three young nuns see Massetto, they decide to use him to fulfill every desire they have ever had.
The Little Hours 2017 movie still Aubrey Plaza Dave Franco
"Is it also considered sodomy if... if I placed my mouth on her sex while...she simultaneously had...had her mouth around mine?" (Image Source)
"The Little Hours" stars some of our favorite comedy actors, so we figured it would be a slam dunk. Not quite. This might be one of the most bizarre movies we saw from 2017. The concept is pretty interesting as it features a group of women living and dealing with 14th-century things, but everyone speaks and acts as if it were taking place today. It sounds like it would be funny in its execution, but it didn't really work for us. It feels a little like director Jeff Baena is trying much too hard to do his own version of Monty Python, though he pretty much fails on every level. Each actor and actress plays to type here. Aubrey Plaza is the foul-mouthed woman with a piss-poor attitude and violent tendencies, Kate Micucci plays the mousy oddball who may secretly be gay, Dave Franco is an attractive young man with a nice guy attitude who all the women want, Reilly is that same comedic slightly ignorant fuck-up we've seen him play in movies like "Step Brothers." This would be okay if the movie had been funnier, but it's just not.
The Little Hours 2017 movie still John C. Reilly
"It’s not fair, you’re just stuck here with all these bitches!" (Image Source)
What we're trying to say is despite "The Little Hours" trying to do something new and fresh, it really doesn't feel all that unique when it comes down to it. As far as the comedy goes, it does produce a few laughs, but most of the humor doesn't hit its mark, which is massively unfortunate considering we love everyone involved in this project. In the end, this is a movie the majority of people most likely have never heard of, and maybe it should remain that way since it will probably only appeal to a very niche audience. The plot gets a little stale about halfway through, and with hardly any giggles to propel you forward, you'll be left twiddling your thumbs wishing you had chosen something else to watch.

My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 4/10
IMDB's Rating: 5.8/10
RT Rating: 79%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

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