You Stupid Man (2002) / Comedy-Romance

MPAA Rated: Not rated, but probably R for language and sexuality
Running Time: 95 min.

Cast: David Krumholtz, Milla Jovovich, Denise Richards, William Baldwin, Jessica Cauffiel, Dan Montgomery Jr., Michael A. Nickles, Deborah Odell
Director: Brian Burns
Screenplay: Brian Burns

An uninspired title for an uninspiring movie, You Stupid Man is little more than an extended situational comedy, without the laugh track, and unfortunately, without the laughs as well.  The best thing one might say about it is that it has an interesting cast, although there is definitely a lack of chemistry, and a certain lack of believability, in geeky David Krumholtz (According to Spencer, Liberty Heights) being engaged in relationships with Denise Richards (The Third Wheel, Undercover Brother) and Milla Jovovich (Zoolander, The Fifth Element), both hot for him at one point or other throughout the course of the movie. 

Krumholtz plays Owen, a man that one day finds his hot babe actress girlfriend Chloe engaged in sexual relations with another actor.  Distraught, Owen goes into sort-of an emotional tailspin from the situation, obsessing constantly about getting a call from Chloe asking him to take her back, but that call never seems to come.  Helping Owen overcome his anxiety is a blind date turned friend named Nadine, who develops feelings for Owen, although he's not able to return them due to his never being able to get over Chloe. 

One might compare this independent New York City comedy to the works of Woody Allen, except Allen's films are usually funny and inspired, two things that You Stupid Man definitely are not.  It could have been tolerable if only it weren't so inherently predictable, making the "stupid man" of the title seem all the more dumb for not realizing what is glaringly obvious to everyone in the viewing audience from inception.  Written and directed by Brian Burns, the brother of actor and filmmaker in his own right, Edward Burns, perhaps he could have used a little brotherly advice in how to make such an overdone premise seem more fresh to romantic comedy audiences.

One big flaw: Krumholtz character comes off so unlikable at times, that it astonished me that two attractive and self-confident women would even bother vying for the attentions of this daft and self-absorbed man.  Perhaps "Two Stupid Women" should have been the more appropriate title.  Tedious.

Qwipster's rating:

©2006 Vince Leo