A Case of You is a dumb romantic comedy — not without a few laughs, but it’s certainly missing many brain cells. Sam (Justin Long) writes novelizations of popular movies including ‘Teen Vampire” (he’s Stephanie Myer for hire). He, like many young men of a certain age, falls for his neighborhood barista Birdie (because we can’t think of a more obnoxious hipster name for women — she’s played by Evan Rachel Wood). Taking to staying Birdie on Facebook he morphs into the “perfect man” by taking guitar lessons (with Sam Rockwell) and takes up cooking.
This is a curious case, as Justin Long is funny and enduring in spurts, sharing co-writer credit with Christin Long and Keir O’Donnell. But so much of the problems with this story go beyond his performance. Directed with little energy by Kat Coiro (who is perhaps best known for webisodes on Funny or Die), each segment may work slightly better as independent sections one can digest in 5 minute bites periodically. As a feature film it doesn’t work, never failing to escape a mundane sitcom territory, despite the presence of several great supporting cast members.
These include Peter Dinklage as a gay barista who flirts with Sam as he escapes into the coffee shop for what likely is a three-hour work session on his novel, Brendan Fraser as Birdy’s ex-boyfriend, and Keir O’Donnell as Sam’s roommate. Vince Vaughn also appears as Long’s literary agent, who endorses his latest text, an account of his relationship with Birdie (this leads to a funny, almost vintage Woody Allen-esque scene).
With the normal romantic comedy tropes occurning between these funny scenes, it’s a shame all of these talented people did not have the ambition to subvert the norms of genre, even a little. A Case of You loses steam quickly, especially due to the decisions Sam makes, getting no pleasure apart from dating a beautiful woman. The intelligence level here is on par with the latest Dennis Dugan/Adam Sandler production.
Birdie is indeed a good girl, not even kissing on the first date. The problem is for funny, smart, young people they find themselves in awfully bland adventures that don’t serve to do very much. Expected and predictable, not every movie about Brooklyn hipsters has to be The Comedy, but it also doesn’t have to be a trite sitcom.