"My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006) | Sam Gall Movie Review Issue #52 Gem Mint 10.0
“My Super Ex-Girlfriend“ (2006)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Writer: Don Payne
Starring: Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson, Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes
Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, crude humor, language and brief nudity
Runtime: 1h 36min
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Language: English
“When a regular guy dumps a superhero for her neediness, she uses her powers to make his life a living hell.”
You might like this if you like: Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson, Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes, comedies, rom-coms, romance, science-fiction, comic books, superheroes, Marvel, DC, "Kick-Ass" franchise, Amazon's "The Boys" (2019-)
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Expanded Universe, and Christopher Nolan's"The Dark Knight" (2008), before "Kick-Ass" (2010), before Amazon's "The Boys" (2019-) came "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006).
Uma Thurman (left), Luke Wilson (middle) & Anna Faris (right) in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006)
I saw this film back in 2006 probably on an Uma Thurman binge post "Kill Bill". I remember going through a small phase of her work. I had gone in initially being a very moderate Luke Wilson fan (to be honest, I still haven't been won over or lost by him) and actually not knowing at all who Rainn Wilson was at the time as NBC's "The Office" was only in its first season and I don't think I discovered NBC's "The Office" until a couple seasons later. Probably the only other person I was familiar with at the time, as I was 12 years old, was Anna Faris as I had been a fan of hers in the "Scary Movie" franchise and some other films here and there.
Rainn Wilson (top left) & Luke Wilson (bottom right) in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006)
Upon re-watching with my fiancé, we were just full on fans of Uma Thurman, Rainn Wilson and Anna Faris. Those were the only ingredients we needed to get us excited. We had just binged NBC's "The Office" and our relationship, early on, deepened because of our mutual love for Uma Thurman's "Kill Bill" and, like me, Rachel was a huge fan of Anna Faris' work. We also happen to be massive superhero/comic book fans as well as Rom-Com fans so the idea of combining all of those things sounded too fun to pass up.
I really didn't remember much as I began to rewatch. It's so ahead of its time in terms of turning not just the superhero genre on its head (also, female lead superhero film) but also the rom-com. Simply by putting the two together. It doesn't force you to dive deep into the mythology of why or how is this possible, it's just an easy rom-com with a fun, fantasy twist.
Uma Thurman in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006)"
Uma Thurman shines in the silliest role she's ever played but she plays it so well it rises to the top performances of hers on my list. There's almost a sadness in her character/performance of this wanting to just be loved by someone and feel normal. Amongst all its silly moments, and arguably silly plot, it has a beating heart you can't ignore. Some of the VFX I've seen too, ESPECIALLY for a rom-com.
Anna Faris always provides the warm corner of a film for me. Her presence is so sweet and funny I'm always looking forward to having her show up. Luke Wilson does a good job but again he's never really blown me away (at least, not yet) but the role fits him perfectly. None of the roles, except maybe Uma's, asks for much. They don't need it. Its beauty is in its simplicity. The icing on the cake is having Rainn Wilson in the film. If you're a fan of his character 'Dwight' in NBC's "The Office" then I don't need to say anything more. I've seen the best friend with the foul mouth giving the lead character advice a million times but somehow Rainn Wilson makes it his own in a charming and original way. Eddie Izzard plays a wonderful, comedic villain in this as well.
Uma Thurman (left) & Luke Wilson (right) in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006)
One of my favorite endings to a film! A sweet, fun, action packed rom-com that feels way ahead of its time with a fantastic cast! Two of my favorite women in cinema! Stay around for the mid credits scene ;)
Written by Sam Gall on 09/17/20
CGC Grading: Gem Mint 10.0
"Smoothly sends up romantic comedies and the superhero genre with such panache, it leaps into mid-summer as one of its best diversions." - Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
"It teetered on the edge of totally sucking, but in the end, it actually pulled everything off." - Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
"Even if it falls slightly short of super, Ex-Girlfriend is a film that's well worth having around." - Josh Hurst, Christianity Today
"Uma Thurman is quite funny as she channels the anger from her 'Kill Bill' character and turns it into hilarious outbursts of superhero rage." - Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
"Director Ivan Reitman is a good choice for this sort of thing - like Evolution, it's undeniably silly but extremely entertaining with it." - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
"Like those superheroes who hide their costumes under unassuming street clothes in order to protect their true identities, this likewise masks its intriguing subtext under the surface charms of a romantic comedy." - Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Official Trailer:
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