I initially wanted to know about this movie because You Again was also the name of an 80s father & son sitcom that I watched when I was a kid and enjoyed very much. I had hoped that they were doing a movie remake of that series but it turned out to be something much different. I read the plot online and thought that it might be a funny comedic movie. And hey you’ve got two powerhouses in Sigurney Weaver & Jamie Lee Curtis in it – what could go wrong?

Plenty is the answer! The movie looks so forced, the comedy is poor and the overall effect is a not so funny movie trying desperately hard to be funny. And fails miserably! Directed by Andy Fickman and written by Moe Jelline, the film stars Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, and Betty White. The film was released September 24, 2010.

Marni (Kristen Bell) is a successful PR executive who just got promoted as VP in a New York office. She goes home for a few days to attend her older brother Will’s (James Wolk) wedding and is shocked to see that the bride to be is her old nemesis from high school Joanna (Odette Yustman)  who made Marni’s life miserable during their years in the same school. Joanna was a popular & pretty head cheerleader while Marni was a geeky, bespectacled kid who was often bullied. But Joanna doesn’t seem to remember Marni. Worse – Joanna fits in very well with the rest of the family, so much so that the family dog doesn’t go to Marni but loving runs to Joanna!

At dinner that night Joanna’s closest loving relative, aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver) also arrives – she was Marni’s mom Gail’s former best friend who pushed her into a pool at their senior prom. Ramona is now a successful, wealthy woman who owns several hotels and a private plane. What a coincidence! So we get Marni trying to get Joanna to admit that she was a bully and made things a lot tough for Marni during their youth, while he mom Gail is trying to outdo & outshine Ramona. Marni doesn’t want her brother to marry Joanna and later finds out that Joanna does remember who she is. She refuses to give Marni a meaningful apology, and treats her disrespectfully, leaving Marni convinced that Joanna has not changed.

At the rehearsal dinner, Marni invites Joanna’s ex who announces that she dumped him at the altar. Marni also manages to get her hands on an old video that shows how much of a bully Joanna was and everyone is stunned at the wedding. An angry Will storms off leaving Joanna in tears. Gail & Ramona fight and later reconcile. Marni & Joanna fight, even as the latter says that she thought they could start things over. She finally admits to Marni that she feels truly awful for bullying and tormenting her and feels like an awful person, and that she loves Will. Marni forgives her and promises to get them back together. The next day,during a jog, Marni apologizes to Will for her actions, saying she was only trying to protect him.

Both Joanna & Will get injured and in the hospital when the tree house they were in breaks and falls down. However Marni arranges their wedding in the hospital hall & appears to start a relationship with Charlie (Sean Wing), her brother’s best friend who was always kind to her. Joanna introduces Marni’s grandmother Bunny (Betty White) to Helen Sullivan. It is revealed that Helen and Bunny were enemies in high school when Helen stole a boy from her. However, Bunny gets her revenge when she cuts in on Helen’s dance and takes her partner. Thus ends a crappy movie.

Weaver & Curtis could not save this cheesey gal flick. Betty White gets a couple of laughs but that’s all. Victor Garber looks apologetic and manages to ramble on through the film. There’s a really dumb rap led cheerleading dance number (ugh!) in the film. It’s full of scenes in which the actors are desperately trying to pull our attention and say “hey this is funny”. I’m sorry that I watched this movie. 3 outta 10!